FRANK FRENCH: The Well-Tempered Clavier

Frank French

The Well-Tempered Clavier

© 2006 Frank French (634479269882)

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For the first time the Well-Tempered Clavier can be heard in the explicitly-stated, 18th Century well temperament that allows the characteristic of each major and minor key to emerge as intended during the time of the composer.

tracks

1 Disc 1 Volume I no 1 in C Major
2 Volume I no 2 in C minor
3 Volume I no 3 in C sharp Major
4 Volume I no 4 in C sharp minor
5 Volume I no 5 in D Major
6 Volume I no 6 in D minor
7 Volume I no 7 in E flat Major
8 Volume I no 8 in E flat minor
9 Volume I no 9 in E Major
10 Volume I no 10 in E minor
11 Volume I no 11 in F Major
12 Volume I no 12 in F minor
13 Disc 2 Volume I no 13 in F sharp Major
14 Volume I no 14 in F sharp minor
15 Volume I no 15 in G Major
16 Volume I no 16 in G minor
17 Volume I no 17 in A flat Major
18 Volume I no 18 in G sharp minor
19 Volume I no 19 in A Major
20 Volume I no 20 in A minor
21 Volume I no 21 in B flat Major
22 Volume I no 22 in B flat minor
23 Volume I no 23 in B Major
24 Volume I no 24 in B minor
25 Disc 3 Volume II no. 1 in C Major
26 Volume II no 2 in C minor
27 Volume II no 3 in C sharp Major
28 Volume II no 4 in C sharp minor
29 Volume II no 5 in D Major
30 Volume II 6 in D minor
31 Volume II 7 in E flat Major
32 Volume II 8 in D sharp minor
33 Volume II no 9 in E Major
34 Volume II no 10 in E minor
35 Volume II no 11 in F Major
36 Volume II no 12 in F minor
37 Disc 4 Volume II no 13 in F sharp Major
38 Volume II no 14 in F sharp minor
39 Volume II no 15 in G Major
40 Volume II no 16 in G minor
41 Volume II no 17 in A flat Major
42 Volume II 18 in G sharp minor
43 Volume II no 19 in A Major
44 Volume II no 20 in A minor
45 Volume II no 21 in B flat Major
46 Volume II no 22 in B flat minor
47 Volume II no 23 in B Major
48 Volume II no 24 in B minor

notes

J.S Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier
48 Preludes and Fugues
played in
Thomas Young's Well-Temperament of 1799
by Frank French


For the first time the Well-Tempered Clavier can be heard in the explicitly-stated, 18th Century well temperament that allows the characteristic of each major and minor key to emerge as intended during the time of the composer. A subtle but certain difference is apparent when this music is played in this authentic tuning.

This four-CD set contains more than four hours of music with liner notes on the history and development of tuning keyboard instruments by Owen Jorgensen with French, Spanish and German language texts. This production, more than two years in the making, was expertly recorded using a Boesendorfer 225 concert piano.

reviews

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  • Reviewer from England
    author: Nigel Taylor

    I have to say that I am delighted with musical experience of listening to the W.T.C. played in Thomas Young's temperament. Thank you for such an excellent recording. The differing key characters are obvious, and the W.T.C. sounds so much more musical and expressive than when all the keys sound the same! Nigel Taylor

  • Marvelously inspiring - not to be missed!
    author: David Hadley Finke

    [This is from a note I wrote to Frank and his friends, in response to his humble notation that the CD set is now ready:] "THANKS for this, Frank -- the notice, and more importantly, the exquisite gift of artistry that you've done in bringing J.S.B.'s original intention to us. I'm doing a "reply to all" as a manner of Testimonial, saying that I've been soaking up these 4 volumes, over and over again, daytime and middle-of-the-night reverie, in car and at computer. It is a blessed experience. Feels like you've put us in touch with Major Forces in the Universe. (I'm trying to use language that's neutral to various religious traditions, but for me it indeed has religious meaning.) I know, Frank, that you put several years into this endeavor. And,thankfully, you've chosen the best piano, the best recording engineer, and your own best effort to make something that -- in my humble, lay opinion -- will help set a standard for a generation. Oh yes... and the distributor, "CD Baby", is a lot of fun to work with as well. They're generous in what they let you hear without buying, but they also make buying easy, and give excellent value. Any of you who don't have this yet, run -- don't walk -- to get your very own set. Just the liner notes are worth some investment -- explaining in careful detail what the various theories of "temperament" have been, and why Frank's diligent work brings us what Bach intended us to hear. Thanks, from a grateful and refreshed heart, from your fan and friend, -DHF "

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