On Nov 10, 2009, at 5:06 PM, David Skolnik wrote: Jeff, Paul, others - I'll agree that there is always a psychological component in all of this... people trying to hide their own uncertainties, inadequacies, deficiencies, but I would be a bit more circumspect in my assertions of dissemblance, were I yous, meaning, don't be so sure. I agree. And not just wind players. Though it is a rare person who can tell 440 from 442, or possibly 441, without any reference, I think a lot of those people are conductors. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the conductor of the New Mexico Symphony could tell - he is one sharp musician. Here, here. There is a conductor on the faculty here at CalArts who, among his many talents, is also a fine vocalist. He is a stickler for 440. Once he was a bit tardy in his piano request. The instrument he wanted was very close to being in tune with itself, but at 440.5 (so I didn't mess with the pitch, just touched it up where it was). Guess what? Without my mentioning it to him--and without the aid of any electronic measuring device--he knew not only that it wasn't at 440 but exactly where is was. I marveled at this feat and asked him how he did it. The answer? He can tell by how it falls in his vocal chords. This individual is a personal friend, and I know him to be a no-B. S. guy. Wow. Alan Eder -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20091111/2c3ca35d/attachment.htm>
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