Klarinet Archive - Posting 000154.txt from 1994/10

From: Timothy Tikker <tjt@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: the Clarinet d'amour
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 1994 12:36:44 -0400

On Sat, 15 Oct 1994, Cary Karp wrote:

> Be careful when reading reports based on the pitches of museum specimens.
> An instrument which we measure as being in A-flat was likely, when pitch
> levels were lower than today's, to have built in nominal A.
>
> The d'amore notion was initially most commonly associated to wind
> instruments pitched in A. Unless there are explicit indications to the
> contrary it is usually safe to assume this to be the case when
> interpretting historical evidence.

Good point! You know, I was going to post a message simply saying "the
Clarinette d'amour was in A" - but then looked at this books, so posted
what I found therein. But it could well be that an "A-flat" CdA is
really an A-horn at A415.

Which reminds me: one thing which puzzles me about modern chalumeaux is
that so many are pitched at A440, when their repertoire is baroque, and
if you want to play with an authentic instruments group you'll need A415...

> I have access to a drawer filled with clarinets d'amore and will take a
> close look at them in this regard.
>

I'm very interested to hear what you find. Does your access make it
possible to play them?