Klarinet Archive - Posting 000429.txt from 1996/08

From: Ed Lowry <72122.3073@-----.COM>
Subj: A=440?
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 13:13:48 -0400

I've been playing my clarinets against a quartz tuner while practicing, and
several questions now come to mind.

I know the "American standard" is A=440, but I wonder how many orchestras in the
US deviate from that. The community band I play in, e.g., tunes to A@-----.

I also understand that some clarinets purchased in Europe are built for A=442
unless you ask for an A@-----. What do you pros out there do when you're asked to
play in an orchestra which doesn't tune to the frequency for which your
clarinet was ostensibly built? Is it a problem? I've always thought that a
typical barrel would be pulled out a little bit, at least, to be in tune.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to adjust up in any event, which is probably a
good thing.

I assume that the clarinets built for a slightly higher (A=442, for example)
pitch are different in more than just the barrel length. Is that correct? Our
discussion about converting Bb to A clarinets leads me to think that maybe the
tone holes are ever so slightly more spaced on the lower pitched clarinets.

All of this musing, if that's the proper word, was prompted by the failure of my
air conditioning system in Sacramento's third day of 109-degree (43 C?) heat.
It seemed I was playing consistently high. Which prompts my final two
questions: what temperature is assumed for A=440 (at least on a piano)? If the
concert hall is unusually warm (or cold) what do orchestras do, if anything, to
adjust? Does it depend on whether you have to play with a non-adjustable (is
that the right word?) instrument like a piano?

I hope some of you find this interesting. It beats sweating in a hot room,
anyway!

Ed Lowry
Sacramento