- Instrumentation:
- harpsichord (clavichord, organ, pianoforte)
The fourth volume of Kirnberger’s ‘Keyboard
exercises’ has become known not only for its music,
but also for the tuning instructions described in its
preface. These tunings have become known in present times as
‘Kirnberger I’ and ‘Kirnberger II’.
The first is a just intonation, the second a variant with
two tempered fifths. Kirnberger’s preface also deals
with an extension of the just intonation by adding intervals
with the harmonic sevenths (with pitches are prefixed
‘i’), but it remains unclear what the practical
consequences can have been. The present edition provides
Krinberger’s preface in a complete English
translation. The music of this volume is as worthwile as the
preface: nice keyboard pieces of various kinds and
characters, in a style midway between baroque and classical.
The concluding Sonata is an imitation of a sonata for a
melody instrument (flute, violin, etc.) and figured bass,
but can, due to the compass of the ‘treble’
voice impossibly performed that way: it is true keyboard
music.
- 1990
- ISBN n/a (paper)
- 1 score (24 pp.)
- 21 x 30 cm
- €16 or US$16