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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000018.txt from 2006/08
From: Keith Sklower <sklower@-----.EDU>
Subj: [DR-L] Kerosene for the fire? Pitch centers of commercially available oboes?
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 01:44:39 -0400
Hi,
I'm thinking of writing a position piece addressed to a handful of concert
band directors about why I went somewhat ballistic (twice) when a concert band
(in which I was playing) began by tunning *sharp*.
I can imagine the unspoken monologue churning in their minds:
"You're an experienced player, right? You can match if you have to!
Don't European Orchestras play at A445 at a minimum? Can't you just
go out and buy an oboe where it's easier to play higher?"
So, to forestall such objections, I'd like to know what the
the pitch centers of commonly used oboes are these days....
Some of my knowledge is 30 years old; back then when Robert Gilbert
was the sole importer of Rigotauts to the US, the ones he brought in
had a slightly different bore than the ones sold in Europe, and
were tuned to 440 as opposed to 442.
Is that still the case?
Indeed, in 1976, in a previous life as a mathematics graduate student
whose dissertation adviser was spending the year at a French research
institute, I had the very good fortune to go to the Loree shop,
have a "troisieme clef de l'octave" installed on my CZ47, and
speak with Mr. Alain DeGourdon asking him if they had ever thought
about manufacturing an oboe at European pitch, with the resonse "Yes,
we *know* how to make such an oboe, but our customers would not
be satisified with the tone quality".
The yamaha web site doesn't provide that information (pitch center) in the
specifications for the YOB831 and 841.
(I have vague memories though of the YFL481 intermediate flute
specified as playing at 442, and indeed my flute head joint
does have to be pulled out, and yes I know that that going to
affect notes like a and b a lot more the d and e. Just like
on oboe).
I have no clue about Buffet, Howarth, Marigaux (or the fellow
in Switzerland who's company I've forgotten -> Dauphin maybe?)
Is there anybody on the list who has access to such information?
Curmudgeonly yours,
Keith L Sklower
obsessive amateur...
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