Klarinet Archive - Posting 000190.txt from 1998/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Short barrels
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 13:14:40 -0400

At 08:01 AM 9/6/98 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
>If I understand you properly, you are suggesting that "numerous
>instruments," percussion instruments manufactured by Yamaha or
>Ludwig/Musser, and the new Selmer 103 are being pitched higher because of
>a "stupid trend" in European orchestras?
>
>If there is a "trend" to raise pitch by a few instrument makers, and you
>notice that "trend", and, you can further document it by doing a
>search......that's great! But there are three issues on the table
>here.....and only two that I have really argued with. The first, and most
>important in my estimation, is your belief that this "trend" is somehow
>related to a raising pitch standard by European Orchestras. My initial
>post in response to Gary's statement was that I don't believe there is a
>raising pitch standard in European orchestras.....they have played at
>445-447 for over 30 or 40 years that we can document by recordings.
>
I think we have a "chicken and egg" argument going here. I am suggesting
that instrument makers are altering the pitch of the instruments IN
RESPONSE TO a de facto higher pitch standard in orchestras, particularly in
Europe.

>The second issue then, is if the European orchestras purposefully raise
>pitch for a "brighter sound." I suggested that you find some reference to
>cite that will help support such a belief. Please note, I do not mean
>American instrument manufacturers raising pitch on a percussion instrument
>to make the sound brighter. I am referring to the reference you made that
>European orchestras raise pitch for that reason. It is entirely possible
>that a manufacturer here or anywhere might decide to raise the pitch of an
>instrument and market it as a brighter sounding instrument. Whether or
>not they do it because of what the European orchestras do is an entirely
>different issue!

The "brighter" sound theory is only my suggested explanation for the pitch
discrepancy. I can think of no other logical explanation. For instument
makers to arbitrarily make their instruments play sharp to stand out from
the rest is too outrageous to contemplate.

>The third issue is the "trend" itself. That is......do Buffet, Leblanc,
>and Selmer all sell instruments that are purposefully higher in pitch?
>As someone who sells musical instruments, you probably have greater access
>to marketing information than the rest of us do.........but this issue is
>not really an issue for me. I simply wanted to explain a difference of
>opinion regarding the statements you made about European orchestras.
>
Yes, many makers offer instruments in your choice of A=440 or 442, the 442
ones primarily aimed at Europe, where the pitch standard is higher, for
reasons I frankly do not understand. But the fact that it causes
intonational grief, particularly for wind players, bothers me. Sure, you
can slap on a shorter barrel and get by, but it really does affect the
entire scale of the instrument. Why even HAVE an international standard if
half the world is going to ignore it?

Sorry to sound so strident, but the difficulty I had recently trying to
order replacement bars for a set of orchestral bells tuned to A=440 made
this issue one of my pet peeves. And while raising the designed pitch of
clarinets may help beginning students play better in tune with the band
(until they raise the other instruments, too, starting the vicious circle),
does it really do anything for the long run?

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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