page_title: Claude Montal
section_title: Books
hierarchical_section_title: Claude Montal / Books
caption_attribution_description: English: Art of Tuning title page, 1865
context_page_description: Claude Montal, was the French author of the first comprehensive text on piano tuning and repair, "l'Art d'accorder soi-même son piano...", published in 1836. He subsequently became a major manufacturer of pianos, with several patented inventions to his credit. He was completely blinded by illness at a young age, and is best known today for having initiated the career of piano technician as a profession suitable for blind people.
context_section_description: Montal's first book, published in 1834, was twenty pages long, solely on the topic of piano tuning. It was intended to help individuals to learn to tune their own pianos, or at least to fill in when a professional tuner was not available. Its full title is very descriptive:  "l'Art d'accorder soi-même son piano, d'après une méthode sure, simple et facile, déduite des principes exacts de l'acoustique et de l'harmonie" (The Art of Tuning Your Own Piano Yourself, by a Sure, Simple and Easy Method, Deduced from Precise Principles of Acoustics and Harmony). 
   This book was translated into German the following year, 1835, and the German version remained in print for many years. It was subsequently translated into Czech (1836) and Dutch (1847).
  In 1836, Montal expanded his original book to over 250 pages, and included detailed chapters on a variety of subjects: how to replace a string; the various repairs needed to keep a piano functioning; descriptions of various models and styles of pianos and how to tune and work on them; general advice about the care of the piano (keeping it covered, avoiding moisture and sun); how to pack a piano for moving; and many similar subjects. He also included a detailed chapter on acoustics, in which he laid out the mathematics behind equal temperament, demonstrating how his own system for tuning was in keeping with science. In addition, he appended a "History of the Piano", in which he traced its origins, and wrote in detail of the changes and developments during the early 19th century. The title of this expanded book remained the same, except that additional descriptive words were added to cover the full contents.
  In 1865, the year of his death, Montal published a revised version, which brought his initial book up to date, covering the changes that had taken place in the intervening 30 years. He added a new chapter on the training of blind people in the profession of piano tuner/technician, and he also included a new appendix, in which he documented his own life, quoting from reviews of his book, and from reports concerning his pianos (leading to medals and awards).
caption: Art of Tuning title page, 1865
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