Baroque Keyboard

Harpsichords, clavichords, and Baroque organs sounded very different from modern keyboards, not just in timbre but in tuning. Meantone temperaments and well temperaments were the standard, and every key had a distinctive harmonic character. Choosing the right temperament for Baroque keyboard repertoire is essential to authentic historically-informed performance.

Recommended Temperaments

Quarter-Comma Meantone The standard keyboard temperament 1500-1700. Pure 5:4 major thirds in the common keys (C, G, D, F, Bb, Eb). Essential for Frescobaldi, Byrd, Sweelinck, and early Bach. Werckmeister III The most widely-used Baroque well temperament. All 24 keys are usable; keys near C major are purer, distant keys more tense. Published 1691. Kirnberger III A well temperament favoring pure intervals in C, G, D major. Kirnberger was a student of Bach, possibly reflects Bachian tuning practice. Barnes' Bach A well temperament reconstruction for Bach keyboard works. Provides access to all 24 keys while preserving key color for historically-informed Baroque performance. Vallotti A moderate well temperament (1754) balancing near-pure common keys with acceptable distant keys. Commonly used for Baroque Italian keyboard repertoire. Sixth-Comma Meantone A transitional meantone with wider key access than quarter-comma. Suits mid-Baroque repertoire that ventures into sharper keys.

Practical Guidance

Practical guidance: Quarter-comma meantone is the correct choice for most harpsichord and organ repertoire before 1700. Its pure major thirds (5:4 ratio) give the Renaissance and early Baroque sound its characteristic sweetness. After 1700, well temperaments, particularly Werckmeister III, Kirnberger III, or Barnes' Bach, provide access to all 24 keys while preserving key color. Avoid equal temperament for Baroque repertoire, it erases the key-specific color that composers exploited.

Instruments for This Context

Soprano RecorderAlto RecorderTenor RecorderBass RecorderFluteOboe

Tune with the Right Temperament: Get Tunable.

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Related Pages

All Temperaments Early MusicKeyboard, Classical Note Frequencies Tone Generator