The piano is the best loved of musical instruments, thanks in part to the elegant symmetrical design of its ivory and ebony keyboard, relative to pitch. And yet this "equal temperament" tuning was once a hugely controversial proposition. For hundreds of years, musicians, craftsmen, church officials, heads of state and philosophers fought heatedly against the introduction of "equal temperament" tuning. Stuart Isacoff recounts this great battle over the best way to create music - one that culminated in the decisive victory of piano over harpsichord.
- ISBN10 1299024351
- ISBN13 9781299024359
- Publish Date 1 January 2009 (first published 22 April 2002)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 11 March 2015
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Vintage
- Format eBook
- Language English