Steinway 457cps pitch

Phillip L Ford fordpiano@lycos.com
Wed, 27 Mar 2002 23:54:46 0000


On Wed, 27 Mar 2002 18:06:53  
 A440A wrote:
>
>    The higher pitch does speed up all the thirds and sixths, though by a 
>small amount.  The scaling that is optimum for 440 can't be perfect for 
>something 12 cents higher,either.  How much more downbearing pressure is 
>created by the additional tension? 
>    Plus, the singers can't sing the literature that was written for the 
>lower pitches and have the natural vocal breaks be in the right places at 
>this higher pitch

>Regards, 
>Ed Foote RPT
>

This is an interesting point.  A good composer has, I believe, a very specific
idea of the sound that he wants, and takes into account the timbre and
inherent strengths and weaknesses of the instruments (including the voice)
that he is writing for.  His mental picture of an instrument is probably based
on a certain frequency, scale, or perhaps even temperament.  Changing these
changes the character of the sound that he intended and changes some of the
characteristics of a piece (such as the vocal breaks that you mention).
In a sense, we're altering or modifying the piece by changing the pitch or
temperament that the composer had in mind.

Phil F


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