440 pitch changes

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Richard:

In your last paragraph you mentioned that the Baldwin F went sharp when 
the lights came on. Usually a piano goes flat when the lights come on. So,
I'm thinking that it might have been the air conditioning that came on
to raise the pitch. That can certainly do it. Now, if one could properly
coordinate the air conditioning and the lights to keep the piano on 
pitch, that would be some trick.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Tue, 10 Feb 1998, Richard Moody wrote:

> 
> 
> ----------
> > From: Michael Jorgensen <Michael.Jorgensen@cmich.edu>
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Pitch and HTs
> > Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 9:38 AM
> > 
> . I believe there is
> > at least some leeway in what A-440 means, and add to this the
> problem of
> > stage lights and it becomes even cloudier.  I'm curious this is
> > acceptable standards or what you and others think about it.  Is
> A-440
> > and one forth ok? what about A-440 and one third? 
> > 
> > -Mike Jorgensen RPT
> 
> 	Being a staunch advocat of A440,  I thought I was going to have an
> opportunity to present my case when I was asked to tune the pit piano
> to A441.  The music coordinator would be there to discuss the overall
> condition of the piano if other than tuning was needed, the cost etc
> etc. 
> 	He met me in the pit, and before I could get a word, he explaned
> that the reason for 441 was that with the change in temperature
> during performance, the piano tended to drop flat. That the orchestra
> actually tuned to 440.  I spied a tuning meter laying on one of the
> chairs.  "Is this what they use?"  "Yes, they seem to be getting
> popular."   (This was in the late 70's)  "I have something similar"
> and pulled out my Korg.  We checked the two and then the piano. 
> Everything was at 440, execpt my 440 fork which was two hairs flat. 
> He told me that indeed during performance, the piano measured one
> cycle flat, so that was why he wanted 441. Then I pulled an old trick
> (new at that time with the meter), and  measured my fork again after
> I had been holding it for 2 or 3 minutes.  It was fully 1 cps flat. I
> don't know how many more tuning meters that sold, he also happened 
> to be the head of the San Francisco Musicians Union.  Then I
> explained the process of raising to pitch, about guessing how far
> over to go  as the added tension would pull it back down, plus other
> factors relating to instability.   He was understanding and ordered
> an extra tuning before next day's rehersal.  So the piano got a pitch
> raise of 1 and 1/2 (+)  cps. I guessed right, every one was happy.  
> 	Now if that isn't enough for the micro incremental error folks, I
> once saw a piano (Baldwin F) go sharp (roughly 1/4 cps) when the
> lights were shining on it.  But when one  contemplates the accuracy
> of tuning when the whole temperament drops 1 cps, and THEN comes back
> up again...    The pit piano was 441 every time I tuned it, and
> rarely if ever needed a temp adjustment. The only rule is, find out
> what is going on.  
> 
> Richard Moody 
> 	
> 
>