Klarinet Archive - Posting 000674.txt from 1996/02

From: niethamer@-----.BITNET
Subj: Re: tuning with strings
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 23:57:51 -0500

On Tue, 20 Feb 1996, B HUDSON wrote:

> I started to send this to you directly, and then I realized that this might
> be of general interest to the LIST. You were sitting beside me during
> David Campbell's masterclass at the Clarinet ChamberFest, and when David
> was working with the tuning of the quartet against the first clarinet that
> played. And you said something to the effect of the following: "the age
> old tuning problem. If the strings are in tune with concert 440 A, the
> clarinet is sharp in the upper register."

I think what I refered to was the tendency of G and C strings on viola
and cello to be low in pitch if they're tuned to pure open 5ths. Thus,
the poor clarinetist doubles his/her problems, since those notes ( G
concert on either the Bb or A clarinet, and to a lesser degree, the c's)
tend to be on the high side. Friendly low string players (cellists and
violists) can tune more in accord with equal temperment to help with this
problem if they're so inclined. Clarinetists can keep their embouchures
sufficiently in shape to resist the tendency to get sharp as they get
soft or tired or both.

> 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.

It's easy enough to play sharp as the notes rise above the staff, too,
but the temptation can be conquered. Pinching the reed in that register
doesn't do much for the tone quality, so it isn't too desirable on either
count (pitch or tone).

Here in the Richmond Symphony we allegedly tune to 442. But the strings
resist going any higher, because of the threat of damage to their
instruments from cranking the strings too tight.

I've also experienced with string players (and other winds, too!) the
confusion over the timbre
of the clarinet in contrast with its pitch, which seems to cause them to
hear the pitch higher than it really is.

Hope this is claer as mud!!

David Niethamer