Ken, Great! May I use this? Avery >We are presently fighting this same battle. Here is the response we sent >to a touring orchestra that requested A=443: > > "The concert Steinway pianos at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall are considered >to be among the best pianos on any concert stage and we are very protective >of them. They are kept at the International Stand Pitch of A=440HZ. >Changing a piano to A=443 involves at least 5 tunings to raise and then >lower pitch, and subjects the piano to radical increases in string tension. >We have decided not to subject our instruments to this kind of radical >change and ask that visiting ensembles plan to tune to A-440. It is, after >all, easily within the tuning range of all orchestra instruments as long as >the oboe players bring reeds that are constructed for this standard pitch." > >I have the temporary advantage of holding an interim position as Director >of Concert Activities. While I'm in charge of the concert halls, we are >going to do it my way! > >Ken > > >>List, >> >> Just thought I'd vent a little. I worked off-campus all day >>yesterday and didn't check my messages until around 6 PM. The >>Houston Symphony is here for 3 days beginning today (at _their_ >>request, not ours) for an all-Copeland concert Saturday night >>and we were not "informed" until 4:45 yesterday afternoon that >>they wanted the piano at A-442. You'll notice I said informed, >>not asked! As in "permission". >> Needless to say, my hackles are STILL up. I had to get here >>about 6 AM this morning to do the pitch raise job for them >>because we were informed so late, that I had no chance to fight >>it. When that alarm went off at 4:30 AM, well, let's just say >>that you'd rather not hear my "thoughts" about why. >> I just had a talk with the Director of the School of Music >>and he's in total agreement with me. After this concert is over, >>the OFFICIAL policy is that our performance halls are A-440 halls >>and if any other pitch is desired, the organization will bring >>their own instrument(s). I'll tune it to whatever is desired, if >>they want, but _our_ 4 instruments are to stay at A-440! >> The director also told me that the symphony is to be billed >>for a pitch raise job and a pitch lowering job. >> It's wonderful working at a school that gives me this kind of >>support and backing! >> Just curious. Does anyone else have that kind of official >>policy at your school? >> >>Avery > >_____________________________________________________________________________ >Ken Eschete Phone: 847/491-5441 >Interim-Director of Concert Activities FAX: 847/467-1831 >Northwestern University School of Music EMAIL: >k-eschete@northwestern.edu > >Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Tickets: 847/467-4000 > >1977 South Campus Drive Concert Hotline: >847/467-PICK >Evanston, IL 60208-2420 >http://www.nwu.edu/pick-staiger/
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