1722: Pitch Imperfect

Available for 35 days

1722, Köthen. In a palace music room, Johann Sebastian Bach is busy making adjustments to the royal harpsichord; setting it, quite deliberately, out of tune. Bach's newest work is an ambitious cycle of pieces in every one of the 24 major and minor keys - a feat that's simply not possible on a keyboard instrument tuned in the traditional way. His revolutionary new tuning system dramatically extends the variety of keys and harmonies available to composers. The 24 preludes and fugues of Bach's Well Tempered Clavier will become the first significant steps into this new era of expanded possibilities - pointing the way for generations to come. Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new BBC Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For Episodes 9 to 16, Gillian welcomes Suzannah Lipscomb to help her explore the fascinating stories and rich sound worlds of the Late Renaissance and Baroque. Producer: Chris Taylor Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford Story Consultant: Kate Leys Series Editor for BBC Audio: Emma Harding Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan. MUSIC DETAILS Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, Prelude No. 3 in C sharp major (BWV 848/1) Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, Fugue No.3 in C sharp major (BWV 848/2) Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, Prelude and Fugue No.22 in B flat minor (BWV 867) Angela Hewitt (piano) Johann Sebastian Bach: St Matthew Passion – Opening Chorus Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki Suzuki (conductor) Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie, Act III, Prelude and Chaconne Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset (conductor) Muir and Tracey: Play That Barbershop Chord After Hours Frédéric Chopin: Prelude in E flat major, Op. 28 No. 19 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 Concerto Italiano Rinaldo Alessandrini (conductor) To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Key Changes."