Klarinet Archive - Posting 000445.txt from 1998/09

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] pitch standard
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 15:35:14 -0400

In the El Paso Symphony Orchestra , we tune to 442, but in the opera and
Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, we tune to 440. It is usually the same
oboist setting the pitch for all the groups. I do use shorter barrels, 65
for Bb and 64 for my A, in the EPSO and the usual 66 for Bb and 65 for A
in the other groups.
Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003

On Sun, 13 Sep 1998, Jay E. Niepoetter wrote:

> The National Symphony Orchestra here in Washington tunes at A@-----.
> Anybody know first hand of others?
>
> Jay
>
> Mark Charette wrote:
> >
> > >I was surprised to read the following discussion of pitch in the '98
> > flute
> > >catalog of J. L. Smith & Co., of Charlotte, NC:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > >The old standard at which flutes were built is A=440, that
> > >is 440 cycles per second. Today's standard is A@-----. I think you will
> > >find that an A=442 flute will play well between A=440 and A=444 without
> > >noticing any great difference in intonation patterns."
> > <snip>
> > >Especially interesting to me is his reference to the A=440 standard in
> > the
> > >past tense.
> >
> > Obviously they don't realize what a standard or benchmark is. There's a
> > few other ways to refer to A@-----.
> >
> > Of course, a standard is an anachronism by design.
> > ----
> > Mark Charette@-----.org
> > Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet
> > "There can be no freedom without discipline." - Nadia Boulanger
> > Former member of ANSI X3H3.1, a _real_ standards body.
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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>

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