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Historical tunings

🔗johnlink@con2.com

6/18/2000 9:55:11 AM

I recently received a notice that the pieces listed below, as well as
others from the 20th century, would be performed at the Smithsonian
Institution on instruments made at the time of each composition. I inquired
as to what sort of tunings would be used, since I think that for at least
some of the pieces 12tet would have not been current. The reply I received
was that Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier was written during the era of 12tet
and that the pianos would be tuned that way. Would any of you who know
please tell me what tunings would have been most likely at the time of each
of the following compositions, so that I may pass the information on to the
people presenting the concert?

Haydn Sonata in Ab
Mozart Sonata in A w/variations
Mozart Sonata in A minor
Beethoven Fur Elise
Beethoven Moonlight Sonata
Beethoven Waldstein Sonata
Schubert Sonata in A minor DV 845
Schumann Symphonic Etudes, Scenes from Childhood
Brahms Piano Concerto #1
Lizst Sonata in B minor
Chopin Fantasie in F minor, Prelude in A, Fantasie Impromptu, Polonaise
Puccini Arias (transcribed by B.T.)
Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor

Thank you for your assistance.

John Link

Visit www.johnlinkmusic.com for info about the new CD by my vocal quintet.