[CAUT] A-440 again

[Tim Coates]

When the NY Philharmonic came to town on tour I had to tune both our 
SSDs to 442.  The newer D (85) started breaking strings shortly after 
being tuned back to 440.  When the National Symphony came to town they 
wanted the piano tuned to 442.  I said "no" and my technical director 
backed me up.   The sponsors brought in a piano from out of town.

I know the NY Philharmonic and the National Symphony use 442 from those 
experiences.  I also know Curt Masur didn't chew out the piano 
technician (me) in front of the entire New York Philharmonic as he did 
the previous night in Chicago.  By the way, the piano (along with the 
pianist) got rave reviews in the paper the next day.  Nice to have a 
piano reviewed!

Tim Coates
University of South Dakota
University of Sioux Falls




On Apr 20, 2005, at 9:28 AM, Avery Todd wrote:

> List,
>
> This has come up again because of one particular string (viola) 
> teacher here. There was evidently a blow-up of some kind at a Chamber 
> Orchestra rehearsal last week because of
> his insistence, as conductor, that they tune to A-442. His primary 
> argument for doing
> so is that "all the major orchestras tune at least to A-442".
>
> I understand the Cleveland orchestra doesn't. Is that still true and 
> does anyone know of
> any other major orchestras who use A-440.
>
> My biggest problem with it here is that as far as I know, everyone 
> (except him and maybe
> 1-2 other string players) like it at 440 and I personally just don't 
> want to be tuning
> instruments back and forth to accommodate this A**. And yes, he really 
> is!
>
> I thought I'd gotten this problem settled years ago but evidently not. 
> :-( Anyone have
> any quick ammunition I can give to the Director? He's caught in the 
> middle of it.
> Thankfully, though, this time it doesn't involve a piano.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Avery Todd
> University of Houston
>
>
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