Fw: Raising Don Rose to Standard Pitch/Isaac OLEG

[Michael Gamble]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Gamble" <michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 11:16 AM
Subject: Re: Raising Don Rose to Standard Pitch


> This is how I do it. I do use an "etd" (thank God I don't have perfect
> pitch! I have to work with an Orchestra at A=430 as well as A=415 - and
> even, dig this,  A=397) which has a meter on it and able to be set to A =
> 445,444,443,442,441 and, of course, 440.  Then starting from the MIDDLE
> mentally divide the entire piano into "Quadrants". That is to say into
major
> thirds. Having first established the current ruling pitch of the piano AND
> satisfying the criteria that the piano will stand this treatment and is
> worth it, AND (not least) establishing with the Client the necessary
> "caveats" of broken strings/frame etc., off we go. Start on middle "B"
(why
> not? got to start somewhere!) This is the governing rule. Go down to the
> bottom first then, starting from the middle, go to the top end.  Tune all
> the Bs on the piano '#' in accordance with the following simple rule: If
the
> piano is semi-tone flat set the meter to A=445. Then, by ear, tune the
> "quadrants" (major thirds - so-called quadrants because you get four in an
> 8ve.) between the Bs. Done it? Good. The piano is now quarter of the way
up!
> Next tune all the A's. to A=444. Then follow the previous route of tuning
by
> ear. The piano is now half-way up! Next tune the A#'s to A=442. OK? Follow
> this by tuning the intermediate two notes per 8ve by ear as before. During
> this cycle there are, just for self-satisfaction, a few cross-checks you
can
> try. Now we are three-quarters of the way through. Finally tune the G#'s
> throughout to A=441 (or 440 - depending on how the cross-checks in this
> final phase turn out) Finally tune the intermediate major thirds by ear as
> before. This will give all the cross-checks you could possibly want. The
> piano is now ready for a Fine Tuning...Done!! One of the useful things
about
> quadrants is that they follow the pattern of the wrest (tuning) pins. You
> have "Upper Quadrants" and "Lower Quadrants" - and knowing this helps as a
> mnemonic - particularly if you're chipping the srings up without the
> advantage of a keyboard in-situ.
> It goes without saying, obviously, that you all have a fine awareness of
the
> beats given by descending/ascending major thirds. Of course you do - as I
> said "It goes without saying..."
> Good luck!
> Am off now to tune a largish Bechstein grand up to pitch for some charity
> raising operatic venture in a large country mansion. This piano I don't
> know. I must take my Roslau Blues with me! The owner, on asking him what
it
> is, "thinks" it's a Bechstein... 'nuff said.
> Ta ta all!
> Michael G (UK)
>