Yellowknife

50 degrees fahrenheit

Hi friends,

Sorry for my recent lack of postings, I was still sick.  This was the worst infection I’ve had in at least 6 years.  But today I’m truly feeling better, finally.  I feel like I could almost go out for a run, in fact.

Yet à propos of the subject heading, I find that all of this flanel and bluejeans, country music, fiddle-dances, and general northwoodsey-ness is getting rather tiresome.  I feel I’m much more of an 18th century kind of guy.  Specifically, I really want a harpsichord, e.g.:

http://www.dwharpsichords.com/

Not just any harpsichord, I want one with split keys.  That means you’ll have, say, 17 keys per octave, so the more commonly used accidentals (C#, Eb, F#, G#, and Bb) are in front, and right behind them you have the more obscure keys (Db, D#, Gb, and A#).  Why all of this?  Well, I’m quite the proponent of meantone temperament.  You can learn more about that here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meantone_temperament

They have sound samples, too, in about a dozen different versions.  I prefer of 1/5 comma modified meantone, myself.  Anywhays, then once I have my own special harpsichord with extra keys tuned in meantone temperament, I’ll dress up in my 18th century costume and get together with all my 18th century friends, and….well, it’ll be kinda like this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxzY3tFTz9k

It would be fun to show up to teach class dressed like that….well, maybe after I get tenure.