Klarinet Archive - Posting 000586.txt from 1998/09

From: Matt Palasik <mattp169@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Pitch standard confusion
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 02:09:14 -0400

ok then if a clarinet is designed to play at a=440 when the temperature
is say 72 as well as the other instruments in the orchestra. Then if
thepitch will naturally go higher as the teperature increaes souldnt the
standard include tem. SO lets say we are in a concert hall that is like
88 degrees with all thepeople the lights etc.WOuldn't it make more sense
to tune slighly highe at say a=441 or 442 so that the instruments will
play more in tune with themselves. Instaed of dozens of people trying to
make slight variations in embouchure or whatever to keep each note in
tune when tuning to a@-----. Wouldnti t be easier for the musicians to
tune concert a slightly higher in warmer temperatures or tune lower in
colder tempertaures? ANd also with temperature playing a constant role
in tuning an instrumentwhy is the Standard often described at a=440 when
the temp is 72 degrees. How often is the temperture in most concert
halls or any other place where orchestras and ensembles perform atually
72 degrees?

Edwin V. Lacy wrote:
>
> On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Matt Palasik wrote:
>
> > Then if you try to tune concert a at say 442 or even father from the
> > standard say a=446 then will an instrument still play reasonably in tune
> > at a=446?
>
> No. Far from it.
>
> > Secondly are the instruments designed to play at a=440 when the temp is
> > 72 degrees only. or are they designed to play at a=440 no matter what
> > the temperature is?
>
> As the temperature changes, the basic pitch tendencies of the instrument
> change, but the player makes the necessary adjustments, if he/she is
> expert enough and sensitive enough to do so.
>
> Ed Lacy
> el2@-----.edu
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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