A 440 Hz Standard

David Ilvedson ilvey@sbcglobal.net
Wed, 14 Apr 2004 20:45:02 -0800


And I suppose if we went along with A442 as standard it would just keep getting higher...

David I.



----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Fred Sturm <fssturm@unm.edu>
To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
Received: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 07:23:37 -0600
Subject: Re: A 440 Hz Standard

>--On Monday, April 12, 2004 5:29 PM -0800 David Ilvedson 
><ilvey@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>> Fred,
>>
>> Now, that  must be a subjective reading of timbre...if violins sound
>> better at 442 just think what 445 would sound like.   When violins are
>> made is there is there a specific pitch that resonates more than others
>> and do makers strive for a pitch?
>>
>> David Ilvedson

>Yes, timbre preferences are subjective. All the best violins (the ones 
>worth millions today) were made to play at something like A-415. Strads and 
>Guarneris and Amatis, etc, were altered in the classical era to have a 
>taller bridge (more downbearing), the necks were replaced with an angle to 
>match the string angle (which had been changed by the bridge height), and 
>pitch was raised to something like 440. Why? I guess the same reason pianos 
>were made heftier, with more tension, heavier boards, heavier hammers. To 
>be louder, for one. And I guess timbre is another reason (preference). Lots 
>of folks love the "baroque" sound of the violin, and either re-alter the 
>instrument or build a copy. Same with pianos.
>	Lots of violinists prefer the sound at 445. That's why the VIenna plays at 
>that pitch, as do a few other European orchestras. I do believe the whole 
>pitch question (as it is argued and fought over today) boils down to timbre 
>of the strings. Everyone else is just along for the ride.
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>_______________________________________________
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