orchestral tuning

[DCrpt@comcast.net]

     I know this a little late and others may have already said what i am about to say.
     I am a trombone player,and with a BM in performance so I know some things about Bassoons.A bassoon is definately not a fixed pitch instrument.The metal tube that the reed goes on is called a bokel(Spelling?).The bokel goes into the body of the basoon with a tight fitting cork bushing around the end.To change the pitch or tune the instrument the player pulls out or pushes in the bokel.As far as the holes being set electronically,I doubt that.The makers probably have a template to determine where the keys and finger holes go.The intonation of the instrument is controled by the player makeing small adjustmnets to the emboucher(or pressure the lips put on the reed).                                                   Robin Olson RPT
> I changed the subject heading as this is beginning to splinter...
> 
> This came before:
> 
> There are no orchestral fixed pitch
> >instruments, except in the percussion section.
> 
> Ok maybe I am using the wrong term.  But what are the holes for in the
> bassoon? To give a pitch? Why is that not called a fixed pitch?  Because
> the player can "bend" it?   What term should be used then, to
> distinguish the pre determined pitch of the bassoon and the variable
> pitch of the trombone?    Also I would like to know how your bassoon was
> actually made.  Did the  craftsperson sit at a bench and file the holes
> so that the pitch agreed with an electronic tuning machine?  If so then
> your bassoon is in ET. Or if not then what pitches were designed will
> tell the anti ET trio what to say about anti ET
> <end>
> 
> When you hear a beginning band play a piece, can you hear how out of tune 
> they play?  That is pretty much the factory setting of pitch on all those 
> instruments.  It's not so much a matter that a player CAN bend the pitch, 
> but that a performer MUST be in control of the pitch, via embouchure, or 
> whatever means they have to blend with what is going on around them.  As a 
> player develps, they get quicker at putting the pitch where they want it to 
> be.  The holes and keys only serve to get the pitch in the ballpark.  Then 
> it is up to the player to find the righ spot for the note.
> 
> I know what you are talking about comparing a unfretted instrument or 
> trombone with a keyed or valved instrument, but I'm not sure of the 
> terminology.  I was surprise when I was told by the Fox bassoon person that 
> their bassoon used a modified just scale.  He insisted that ET would just 
> sound bad.  It's on the website that I posted about before.  It still seems 
> to me that putting them in ET would make corrections easier.  It may well be 
> an engineering problem that influenced the decision.
> 
> Ron Koval
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfeeŽ 
> Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives