High‐temperature high‐vacuum electrostatic levitation (HTHVESL) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were combined to determine the hemispherical total emissivity &egr;T, and the specific heat capacitycp, of the undercooled liquid and throughout the glass transition of the Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5bulk metallic glass forming alloy. The ratio ofcp/&egr;Tas a function of undercooling was determining from radiative cooling curves measured in the HTHVESL. Using specific heat capacity data obtained by DSC investigations close to the glass transition and above the melting point, &egr;Tandcpwere separated and the specific heat capacity of the whole undercooled liquid region was determined. Furthermore, the hemispherical total emissivity of the liquid was found to be about 0.22 at 980 K. On undercooling the liquid, the emissivity decreases to approximately 0.18 at about 670 K, where the undercooled liquid starts to freeze to a glass. No significant changes of the emissivity are observed as the alloy undergoes the glass transition. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.