Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 1995/05

From: Gregory Andrew Seigel <gas11@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Woodwind Quintet Intonation Problems
Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 16:58:47 -0400

On Wed, 3 May 1995, Tom Ascher wrote:

> I'm surprised by the post that refers to the oboe as having the most
> intonation problems. I was under the impression that the oboe was the
> most reliable instrument in the orchestra as far as intonation. Isn't
> that why the orchestra tunes to the oboe?!

My impression was that we tune to the oboe first for historical reasons,
but second because they are the least adjustible - they can't really push
in or pull out slides or joints.

In my quintet, we are constantly fighting intonation. Most of our
problems come from our hornist, but I find that the quintet makes many
very subtle adjustments to the oboe. We have been working on _Summer
Music_, for the last 6 months, and having gotten past the myriad ensemble
problems in there, now we spend a good 60%-70% of our time dealing with
intonation. That piece in particular is an interesting example to deal
with pitch, as I understand that Barber wrote some of the sonorities
based on a tuning exercise that the NY Woodwind Quintet was working on in
a rehearsal.

Best of luck - I don't think that we as musicians will ever escape the
problem of intonation.

Andrew Seigel
gas11@-----.edu