---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment At 04:13 PM 11/23/2005, Stan Ryberg wrote: >This is a most informative posting, wrapping up a number of threads >that have appeared periodically. I would like to suggest an >alternative theory concerning the rise of orchestral pitch (a fact, >not a theory...it's been 442 in Chicago for years at Orchestra Hall). Same at Symphony Hall in Boston. > After years of playing in a variety of orchestras, I've seen wind > players having to scramble to reach the pitch level of the > strings...the manufacturers are only responding to what the players > have reported that they need on the job. Having played > on...uh..."outdated" equipment myself, I've found it necessary to > have the instruments cut to reach modern pitch levels. Violinists, > in particular, strive for the brilliance that a "slightly" raised > pitch level affords...but in old violins especially, that can > eventually lead to the instrument going "dead" as it accustoms > itself to the higher tension. Solution? Raise the ! pitch > again! (Until the instrument implodes...) These are very small > increments, to be sure, but they add up to as high as 444 in some > orchestras...and MOST wind players will have difficulty with their > equipment at that level! Cause and effect, yes, but I'm not > convinced the cause began with the wind instruments. You are absolutely correct about pitch being constantly pushed up by the string players - and wind instrument manufacturers merely following the trend. I believe several major makers are now pitching their instruments at A=442 precisely for that reason. The only reason I mentioned wind instruments in my previous post was because that's what affected me personally in my professional life... We were doing fine at A=440 until the clarinettists squawked. The string players in the program haven't yet reached the prima-donna stage where they can throw their weight around, but if the clarinet can't tune down to the piano - well, that's a problem that I am expected to address... Israel Stein ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/45/14/a8/5b/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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