Historical temperamentals

[Robert A Murphy]

Dear Dan, et al

I just got back from a week long gig at the Lincoln Center, preparing an 1830
Graf fortepiano for Robert Levin and the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique
(Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor).  Gardiner's group and the Academy of
Ancient Music (Christopher Hogwood), with whom I worked with several years back
on a 5-octave instrument, preferred my tuning the instrument in use, in equal
temperament, somewhat to my surprise.

The N.Y.Times reviewed the Yo Yo Ma recording you've mentioned, rather
critically (Sunday Aug.1), not on the basis of his playing, certainly, or even
his attempt at a period instrument spin.  But instead, because of his lack of
understanding the historical context of his historical attempt.

I think I've come to understand the above Period Instrument groups' reasons for
requesting equal temperament in the instances I assisted with, being that the
context of the music being played was better represented by it, instead of the
date of instrument dictating the tuning.    Extinguishers please?

Robert Murphy
Piano Technician
Michigan State University





> Dear List:
>
> I just received information (via BMG classical Record Service =
> Newsletter) that Yo-Yo Ma has recorded and released a recording of Bach =
> selections and Boccherini concertos performed with the Amsterdam Baroque =
> Orchestra, Tom Koopman conducting.
>
> According to the brochure, he modified his 1712 Strad cello by removing =
> the endpin, replaced the standard bridge with a thicker, Baroque styled =
> bridge (giving the fingerboard a different feel), used gut strings and a =
> baroque bow, and tuned the instrument differently (the article does not =
> say how).
>
> Ma called the result "a warmer and more relaxed sound...Suddenly you get =
> a different world of sound - a whole world of expressivity, of color.
>
> The reviewer said that it is indeed ear-opening.
>
> I haven't ordered it yet, but with the many discussions of historical =
> tunings on the list, I thought many would find it interesting that we =
> are not the only experimenters and likers of alternate tunings.
>
> Dan Hallett, Jr. RPT