Alaska

The Alaskas are temperaments created by Carl Lumma which feature flattened octaves, with an eye to improving the 5 and 7 harmonies. Below is Hindemith's "Overture to the 'Flying Dutchman' as played at sight by a second-rate Concert Orchestra at the Village Well at 7 o'clock in the morning" tuned to Alaska 4. Potential listeners should be warned that various aesthetic crimes are in progress. Hindemith took Wagner's massively orchestral piece and transcribed it for string quartet, an obviously wildely inappropriate scoring. He also warped it; I orchestrated it a little and I'm afraid some further warpage has occurred. The final result is tuned to Alaska 4, which has octaves four cents flat.


Alaska 4

Wagner/Hindemith Flying Dutchman


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