[analog31]

As I understand it, people were aware of the problems of the temperaments, but a temperament is a technology. Each of the old temperaments came with an algorithm, that your regular Joe musician could use to keep their own instrument in tune. This in turn was needed because instruments didn't stay in tune for very long.

Equal temperament requires an expert, which in turn requires an instrument with stable tuning -- the modern piano.

Wind instruments actually have no straightforward temperament, but are just as close as possible, and the musician is expected to bend notes as needed. For all practical purposes, an orchestra is an un-tempered instrument.

[ta0o0o0]

OK. I guess I shouldn't have talked about instruments I don't know well.