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THE TEMPERAMENTAL BACH ORGAN CD

A Compact Disk that explores temperaments through direct comparison.

Fantasy and Fuge in A Minor
BWV 561
1 EQUAL
2 MEAN TONE
3 KIRNBERGER

Kleines Harmonisches Labyrinth
BVW 591
4 EQUAL
5 MEAN TONE
6 PYTHAGOREAN
7 KIRNBERGER
8 WERCKMEISTER I
9 WERCKMEISTER III
10 YOUNG I
11 YOUNG II

Wir Glauben All
BWV 680
12 EQUAL
13 MEAN TONE
14 PYTHAGOREAN
15 KIRNBERGER
16 WERCKMEISTER I
17 WERCKMEISTER III
18 YOUNG I
19 YOUNG II

The Recording
To ensure that the use of the temperaments would not influence the performance of the music, the music was prepared in the form of a MIDI file by James Pressler, creator of Bach By Immersion.

To further lessen outside effects, the recording was made direct to CD during a non-stop 90 minute period, during which the temperature and humidity of the room was maintained to eliminate changes due to the elasticity of air. For this reason, slight background noise of traffic and such may be present.

A Rodgers® Digital Organ was prepared and voiced for this recording by Noel Jones, AAGO.

The recording is approximately 75+ minutes in length.

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2 CD set
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Sample MP3 Files

Premier Kyrie en taille à 5 (D minor)
Equal Temperament

Premier Kyrie en taille à 5 (D minor)
Mean Tone

The Temperamental De Grigny

More than 2 hours and 22 minutes of music - a 2 CD set

Nicolas De Grigny
Grigny was organist at the Paris Abby of St. Denis from 1693 to 1695. After 1697 he was organist at Notre Dame, in Reims, where he took over the duties of his father. Not a prolific composer, Grigny is remembered today for his “Pièces d’orgue” (posthumous, 1711), a profound and stirring collection of hymns for the organ. Johann Sebastian Bach handcopied this work as a youth.

All 8 organ works are performed in their entirety in:

1. EQUAL
2. MEAN TONE
3. PYTHAGOREAN
4. KIRNBERGER
5. WERCKMEISTER I
6. WERCKMEISTER III
7. YOUNG I
8. YOUNG II

1. Bass de Trompette ou de Cromhorne (A minor)
The fifth part of the Gloria in Grigny’s Messe IV. The notes inégales create a slightly rushed atmosphere which slows down appropriately for the rich lower notes of the trumpet, echoed by the Cromorne in the 3 manual version, or by the Hautbois with Cornet in the 2 manual version

2. Récit de Tierce en taille (A minor)
The fourth part of the Gloria from Organ Mass IV, this exquisitely expressive solo in the tenor voice is a jewel of the French Baroque by a composer who lived only 31 years.

3. Premier Kyrie en taille à 5 (D minor)
The very first piece in Grigny’s only published volume, the registration called for is Grand Plein Jeu in Manual, Reeds 8 and 4 in Pedale. The organ at Reims Cathedral played by Grigny shows only 4 stops in the pedal, 8+4 Flutes and 8+4 Reeds.

4. Cromorne en taille à 2 parties (D minor) Also known as the 2nd Kyrie, this piece shows off the Cromorne stop in the tenor range. Very sparing use of notes inégales when appropriate and the usual feast of elaborate ornamentation.’

5. Fugue à 5 qui renferme le chant du Kyrie (D minor)
The French Baroque masters were meticulous about noting registration in their scores, unlike the more generic Germans, who only occasionally mentioned a specific organ stop. This fugue has 4 highly ornamented voices, 2 on the Cromorne of the Positif, 2 on the Cornet of the Grand Orgue, and the fifth, unornamented voice is in the pedal of 8 and 4 foundation stops.

6. Veni Creator, en taille à 5 (F Major)
The first of 4 verses, the chorale appears in the pedal on 8+4 reeds. The other 4 voices are played using a subtle form of notes inégales.

7. Pange Lingua, en taille à 4 (A minor)
Unusually heady ornamentation on a sparkling plenum, even for Grigny, with the cantus sounded on the Trompette in the pedal in slow notes.’

8. Ave Maris Stella (I) (D minor) Heavily ornamented manual parts with chorale sounded at 8 and 4 reeds in the pedal.

The Recording
To ensure that the use of the temperaments would not influence the performance of the music, the music was prepared in the form of a MIDI file by James Pressler, creator of Bach By Immersion.

To further lessen outside effects, the recording was made direct to CD during a non-stop 90 minute period, during which the temperature and humidity of the room was maintained to eliminate changes due to the elasticity of air. For this reason, slight background noise of traffic and such may be present.

A Rodgers® Digital Organ was prepared and voiced for this recording by Noel Jones, AAGO.

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The Temperamental Mr. Purcell - Harpsichord

A Compact Disk that explores temperaments through direct comparison.

Suite in G Minor

1 EQUAL
2 WERCKMEISTER
3 KIRNBERGER
4 VALOTTI
5 YOUNG
6 MEANTONE
7 PYTHAGOREAN

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The Recording
To ensure that the use of the temperaments would not influence the performance of the music, the music was prepared in the form of a MIDI file by James Pressler, creator of Bach By Immersion.

A Roland® C-80 Digital Harpsichord was used for this recording. A freestanding instrument, it has a disposition of 8', 8', 8' + 8', 8' + 4', Lute, Celesta, Organ Gedeckt 8', Organ Principals 8' + 4'.
For more information about the Roland® Harpsichord click here.

The recording is approximately 60 minutes in length.

Our Guarantee
We will gladly refund the entire amount paid if you are dissatisfied with this recording in any way.

Links to further information about temperaments

James Pressler's Virtually Baroque Project

The Temperamental CD's have been shipped around the world, to musicians, teachers, physics professors and university libraries.

We are very pleased to continue to offer these CD's.

To keep them affordably priced, they are shipped in cardboad CD mailers without expensive plastic cases and printed inserts.