Klarinet Archive - Posting 000493.txt from 1998/09

From: "JW <VZ2@-----.COM>
Subj: [kl] Pitch standard confusion
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 14:10:54 -0400

So, zillions of bytes of text on the above, which could easily be distilled
into the following:

* A=440 is A=440 no matter the conditions; 32 degrees, 100 degrees, sea level,
high in the mountains, etc. Only thing that matters here is vibrational
speed of the pitch, either 440 or NOT 440.

* HOWEVER, the speed of sound IS affected by the density of the medium it
travels thru - all other things equal, this means that any
sound producer will probably produce different pitches in a cold room vs.
a warm room(tuning fork, clarinet, etc). It is a well know fact that t
the speed of sound is MUCH different when travelling thru water than thru
air, even though the producer of the sound may be the same, for example.

* A tuning fork or clarinet will expand or contract depending upon the
temperature change, affecting the pitch produced.

What gets really complicated is when you mix the above properties - i.e.,
take a cold clarinet into a warm room & notice that you play flat...the
clarinet is actually fractionally shorter, which should produce a HIGHER
pitch, but the cold horn cools the vibrating air inside it, which LOWERS
the pitch more that any shortening of the horn will raise it(!) This
combination is also why a warm clarinet(which is marginally LONGER/flatter)
plays relatively sharper(because warm air inside horn raises the pitch).

As far as orchestra pitch, it therefore really does matter at what temp.
you tune, NOT because of A=440, but because of expansion/contraction/
air temp inside the instrument will affect the produced pitch.

A=440/A=442 really is noticeably different, even if it doesn't sound much
different switching a tuner between the two. The proper way to judge it is
to play pitches at the same time with both pitch standards(via tuner,
Vivace, etc.). You will then REALLY notice the difference.

Most non big-time orchestras I've heard or played with play sharp, because
of bad oboe players, sharp trumpets, etc. Throw in 1st clarinet parts
above the staff, where people almost ALWAYS play sharp, and you effectively
have A@-----. If you think I'm nuts on this one,
get a friend to slowly play a clarinet part above the staff with you on
a properly tuned piano & you'll see that almost everything above the staff
is sharp. This is partly due to most people's habit of tuning to open 'G'
& 3rd space 'C', so as to "make sure I'm not flat", which of course will
mean you'll be sharp in other ranges.

Ok, off my soap box, any flamers out there ??

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