Klarinet Archive - Posting 000178.txt from 1995/01

From: Robin Fairbairns <Robin.Fairbairns@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: Pre-WWII instruments
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 1995 12:23:46 -0500

> On Fri, 6 Jan 1995, Roger J. Shilcock wrote:
>
> > There was also a British "high pitch" or "band pitch" of a'=452, and there
are
> > probably second-hand (very) instruments built to this pitch here and there
> > around the world being got rid of at the first opportunity.
>
> A few times in recent Clarinet Journals people have mentioned stumbling
> across Clarinets in B-natural. I wonder if these weren't really just
> B-flat instruments at a' @-----.

A scale at a'=440 has its b' at about 494

A scale at a'=452 has its bflat' at about 479

That, given the fact that there really are parts notated as for a B
clarinet, seems to me to indicate that these reports of Bs are for
real.

(Note that my sums are based on mathematically equal temperament,
rather than the figures one's ears tell you, but I think the
differences are such that the surmise can't be true.)

R