Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 1998/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Short barrels
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 09:06:50 -0400

On Sat, 5 Sep 1998, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> Numerous instruments are now being pitched at A=442 instead of the former
> A@-----. For example, if you buy orchestral bells from either Yamaha
> (Deagan) or Ludwig/Musser, they will now be pitched at 442 unless specified
> otherwise. And the new Selmer 103 clarinet has just replaced the 100. One
> of the biggest changes is to raise it to A@-----. It sure looks like pitch
> creep to me!

A more logical explanation for "pitch creep" in student grade clarinets
might be that, with the problems of playing outside, problems of public
school brass players playing sharper and sharper, teachers have simply had
trouble getting their clarinet students to be able to play in tune with
the band's rising pitch. The "click" barrel was designed specifically for
this reason.

As for orchestra bells, I have no idea why they are being pitched at
A=442, but I could guess that they also make them at A=440? Our orchestra
tunes at 440, but we retune twice more before the evening is out. The
strings always drive the pitch up. I can only guess about the reasons for
raising melodic percussion instrument pitch.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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