Bach-Werckmeister reappraised

Thought I'd respond to the myth that Andreas Werckmeister reversed himself on
his preference for his own chromatic tuning. Contrary to assertions posted
last year, recent research demonstrated W. was proud and confident of his
chromatic tuning, and that it was widely used throughout central Germany.

Last year it was postulated incorrectly that W. offered 12-tET as an
alternative tuning in his "Short Lesson and Addition, how one can tune and
temper well a clavier" which was tagged to his "The most necessary
Observations and Rules How the Bassus Continuus Or Thoroughbass can be well
treated And each who has just a little knowledge of music and the clavier can
learn it on his own."

This pamphlet was written for a green beginner. In it, W. suggests as a
start a rough tuning of 12 equally sized fifths, only to give further
directions for fine tuning well-tempered. After first making a joke at the
funny sound of the word the Dutch use for the comma, he writes that he
doesn't want to talk about the comma because it is complicated. W. referred
instead to his previously published monochords engraved in his "Musical
Temperament" for further details.

Werckmeister never endorsed equal temperament as an alternative to his
previously published monochords engraved in "Musical Temperament" (1691).

Even the posthumously published "Musical Paradox" (1707), published by W.'s
children to get some money, refers to "Musical Temperament" for temperament
specifics. In fact, most every work specifies "Musical Temperament" for
further interest in temperament. This is the reason that the 2nd edition of
W.'s "Orgel-Probe" left tuning specifics out. It is because W. has begun
what would become a tradition of referring to others books he had written for
further examination. Clearly he wanted all his books to be of continuous
value, and to be purchased.

Johnny Reinhard

Dear Johnny R.,

When you say Bach's _corpus_, might you not be going a little too far? In
other words, isn't it likely that Bach's early music was intended for older
tunings than Werckmeister?

-Paul E.

In a message dated 1/16/01 9:31:33 AM Eastern Standard Time,
PERLICH@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM writes:

> When you say Bach's _corpus_, might you not be going a little too far? In
> other words, isn't it likely that Bach's early music was intended for older
> tunings than Werckmeister?

Not at all. Werckmeister wrote of the common chromatic tuning as early as
1681, three years before J.S. Bach was born. When W. died, J.S. was getting
married in Muhlhausen and they never did meet. However, W.'s chromatic
tuning scheme was the only game in town that inquiring minds could agree
upon. The light of God was shining down bright on this music, and
Werckmeister lit the way.

Johnny Reinhard

p.s. besides there's mucho evidence for the cultural connections, and Bach
definitely read Werckmeister's "Orgel-Probe" besides.

--- In tuning@egroups.com, Afmmjr@a... wrote:

http://www.egroups.com/message/tuning/17573

The light of God was shining down bright on this music, and
Werckmeister lit the way.
>

Mein gott, Johnny, you're starting to sound like Ashcroft!

(Just kidding)

Joseph
______ ___ _____ _
Joseph Pehrson