Klarinet Archive - Posting 000642.txt from 1996/02

From: Thomas Labadorf <Labadorf@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Air Varie`e by Paul Ben-Haim
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 22:05:29 -0500

I realize that I'm hopping into the middle of this discussion, but something
caught my eye that I just couldn't let go by.

On Tue, Feb 20, B Hudson said:

"The issue has come up again in that I think you know my musical world is
dominated by string players (cellist wife and colleagues), and repeatedly I
hear them complaining that my favorite players in the region are sharp in the
upper registers-- probably f above the staff and everything above it.

****************
And a few string players I've asked about this comment vaguely that that's
why strings have a tendency to tune sharp to 440."
****************
(snip)

Please correct me if my interpretation is in error. Do you mean to say that
string players tune higher than 440 because clarinet players play sharp in
the upper register? Sounds pretty obsurd, but if this is the case, then they
are blaming someone else for their own tendencies. It's a fact, that humans
have a tendency to want to play high pitches sharp and very low pitches flat.
In other words, very high pitches sound flat to most people if they are
precisely in tune. That is one reason piano tuners deliberately tune pianos
a little sharp in the upper range and a little flat in the lower range. I,
too, have played with string players (some very good and some not so good)
and I will always have to adjust higher especially when violinists play high
in the fingerboard. Sometimes I can't even reach them.

Another issue is that some orchestras (I believe the Boston Symphony is one)
deliberately tune to 442 because they like the resulting brilliance it gives
the general tone of the group.

I sure hope your cellist friends were not holding innocent clarinetists
(oxymoron?) responsible for their own folly!

Also, Fred Jakobawitz said in response to your original message:

"So, the moral is tune the lower notes and learn not to bite so much on the
upper ones so you can play them slightly lower."

Excellent advice!

Tom L.
Clarinetist, Coast Guard Band
Labadorf@-----.com