Well now, I am pleased, perplexed, and misunderstood... ;^)

In my reference to 'natural' tuning, I am speaking of 'just' tuning. I am not attempting to discuss modes at all really, in fact I am trying to relate with you in the realm of just one mode... It doesn't matter which one you chose... just pick one, and lets move forward from there.

Next for me is this 'radical' notion... For this discussion, we are not going to change keys/modes. Dull?... Antiquated?... Pre-evolutionary?... I guess you can call it what you like, but this IS a folk/trad thread base, so the theory is Kinda over the top here now isn't it...

Many folk traditions are based on one key/mode exclusively, and we tend IMHO to forget that our improvements and embellishments are not the 'real thing'...

Here's an experiment; ...try taking a harp to just tuning. This means tuning all the notes to the tonic drone. If you are very careful to do it accurately BY EAR, you will not be able to get 'beats' or the phasing in and out of the conflicting and not quite in tune tempered tradition... Now... for all the imperfections and and inabilities spoken of above, there is a significant difference between this 'just scale' and the tempered modern counterpart. Now. Play that scale on the harp, with a tempered scale in the same key on another instrument. The difference is obvious, and immediately apparent. I believe that there is something to this.

My point is illustrated by an assertion. I have to say, that as much as I like classical music, it seems odd that the pieces based on folk/trad session jottings (more than we know, I'd be heard saying) really don't get it... IMHO... This may be one of many reasons. ttr