At 03:01 AM 11/19/2005, <newdaymoore@bellsouth.net> wrote: >I have found that the 1890 Sohmer piano is an a436 piano. What does >that mean? Does that mean that the middle C on an a436 doesn't >sound the same in pitch as the middle C on an a440 piano when both >pianos are properly turned? >Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 19:50:37 -0500 >From: <newdaymoore@bellsouth.net> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> >Subject: I meant a435 not a436 > > >Inside the piano has written a435 For all practical purposes it means nothing. A=435 was - around the turn of the 20th century - being touted as "International Concert Pitch" in an attempt to standardize pitch (which was all over the map at the time, depending on locality or even a particular musical establishment). Piano manufacturers participated in the effort by recommending this pitch for tuning their pianos. You'll find some Chickerings from that era that also have A=435 stamped on or even cast into their plates. Means nothing - pianos had to be capable of being tuned to whatever pitch was in use where they were being played, and that could have been as high as A=450+ according to evidence found (like tuning forks). As far as at what pitch they sounded their "best" - that's totally subjective... I doubt that the methods of piano scale design of that era could so precisely pinpoint optimum string tension... Israel Stein
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