Klarinet Archive - Posting 000649.txt from 1998/09

From: "Dee Hays" <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Pitch Standard
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 08:46:22 -0400

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All a person has to do is use a little common sense on using the pitch =
standard. Let's just use the international standard of A=3D440 as an =
example. The standard is defined as an absolute independent of =
temperature. However all hardware is temperature sensitive from tuning =
forks to clarinets. So to build an instrument, temperature has to be =
included in the definition. Thus it is common to design an instrument =
for A@-----. But what do you do when playing =
in an environment where you cannot control the temperature? Tune to the =
oboe of course no matter whether it is flat or sharp since it doesn't =
have the tuning flexibility of the other instruments. So long as the =
instruments are together in the ensemble performance, its not critical =
if you actually play a performance at A=3D440 (unless of course you have =
vocalists on a very high line). If you are playing outdoors on a really =
hot day, that oboe hasn't a ghost of a chance at tuning to A=3D440 so if =
you use an electronic tuner, he/she is going to be noticeably and =
incurably sharp if you try.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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