In German archives, and in some printed book indexes, B and P are interchangeable. Like our older V's and U's, and J's and I's. So an index at the combined letters B/P might read:
Bach, J. S. Pach, Johann Christian, Pachelbel There are 18th-century scores that spell the Bach family name "Pach," and surely someplace there is a score spelled "Bachelbel." Particularly with less familiar names, this practice prevents confusion, and you need only look in one place in the alphabet. So Kapsberger and Kapsperger would likewise be interchangeable when alphabetized this way. How does one resolve the difference, and select one "proper" spelling? This is what has to be done in libraries. And the Library of Congress has established "Name Authority" files for the use of cataloguers. One standard, uniform name is given where all of the works of that author will be listed (regardless of the spelling used, say, on the titlepage), plus "See" files for all other forms of that author's name. I checked Kapsberger/Kapsperger. The LoC standard spelling is Kapsperger (which surprised me) with a "See" cross reference: Kapsberger, see Kapsperger. The LofC "Name Authority" files give some 8 or 9 different "See" entries for his name. E.g., Johann Kapsperger, Giovanni Girolamo, Girolamo, Hieronymus, etc. The other way to settle such a question, would be to use the main spelling in a reliable music dictionary like The New Grove. Where the spelling (will you believe this?) is Kapsberger.<sigh> Slonimsky comes in with a Kapsberger, too. Eitner uses Kapsperger, and RISM Kapsberger. MGG in proper German form favors Johannes Hieronymus Kapsberger. But since he was born and died in Italy, one wonders if he could speak German. I guess that means that in London and Leipzig you play pieces by Kapsberger, and in North America by Kapsperger. But why not ditch Kapsb/perger entirely, and play something by Biccinini instead? ajn. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Rastall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Alain Veylit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 10:33 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Kapsperger or Kapsberger? > Good question. The title page and dedication(?) of > Libro Primo > D'Involatura Di Lauto both show the spelling > Kapsperger. POD's CD > shows a reprint of that same title page, but the CD > itself is > entitled Kapsberger. Are the two versions of the name > interchangeable perhaps, or is one spelling just a > capricious version > of the other, like Douland, Doland etc. for Dowland? > On May 21, 2007, at 8:14 PM, Alain Veylit wrote: > >> Kapsperger or Kapsberger? >> Alain >> >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > David Rastall > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.rastallmusic.com > > > > -- >
