Hear Historical Temperaments on Tape

[Carol Beigel]

        This week we had a thread running through this list about how pianos
were thought to sound better tuned differently than the standard Equal
Temperament we use now.  In October 1990, the Washington D.C. Chapter of PTG
recorded a symposium given by Professor Owen Jorgensen tracing the history
of keyboard tuning called "A Temperamental Journey".  This recording was
made at the Smithsonian Hall of Musical Instruments in the National Museum
of American History in Washington, D.C. using 8 authentic period instruments
in their collection and 10 different historical temperament systems.  The
music on this recording, played by students at Peabody Conservatory, sounds
the way the classical composers heard it.  The same music is also played in
various temperaments so you can compare them.  I mention this tape for three
reasons:
        1) It is a companion tape set to the authoritative and extensive
work of Owen Jorgensen's big red book on Tuning. In fact, he referred to his
2-foot high manuscript during the symposium!
        2) There really is a renewed interest in historical temperaments. A
customer, studying Bach, recently mentioned to me that her Suzuki teacher's
training tape was done in an historical temperament and was recommending
that her students consider having such a tuning done on their pianos.
        3) A decision needs to be made as to how many more tapes to produce.
They are professionally done on very expensive audio equipment, and the
studio is considering dispensing of their tape-producing equipment in favor
of CDs.

        If you would like to hear music played in various historical
temperaments, and decide for yourself whether or not is sounds "better",
this high quality recording can be purchased from Pianotek for about $25.
It is a set of two 90-minute, state-of-the-art audiophile cassette tapes
made directly from the digital master. Pianotek Supply Company is located at
401 W. Marshall Ave., Ferndale, Michigan  48220  USA.  Phone numbers are:
810-545-1599, 1-800-347-3854 or send a fax to 810-545-0408. The part number
for the tape set is BKSP-20A, A Temperamental Journey.

Happy Listening!

Carol Beigel, RPT
Greenbelt, Maryland