Klarinet Archive - Posting 000285.txt from 2000/08

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] My memory /Tony Pay`s Weber
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 12:15:49 -0400

----- Original Message ----- FROM- - -
I can`t remember - sorry
Subject: Re: [kl] My memory did not deceive me after all

Someone mentioned T.P. recordings of the Weber 1 &2 & concertino. I have
that rec. acc by the Orch. of Age of Enlightenment. Also directed by
Tony(?). It`s a Virgin Classic. Whether that is a later >budget release I`m
not sure, but the sleave note is relevant to the question posted by ?. Reads
as follows: (if Virgin will allow me)

"These performances were rec. using a copy (Bangham, 1983) of a 7
keyed instr. in Bb by Simiot, of Lyons (c.1800); 2 extra keys were added to
facilitate the execution of Weber`s chromatic passage-work,
which however remains virtuosic on instr. of this period. Baermann`s 10
keyed clari. was made by Greisling & Schlott of Berlin (1809), tho` we do
not know the precise lay-out of his instr. The pitch is "A" @-----."

If this extract does not satisfy the mystery (to me) contributor`s
curiosity, then all I can suggest is to contact the "Maestro" himself.

Whilst I`m still here, could Tony please explain a couple of questions re:
the pitch quoted - 430Hz. I havn`t studied the essential science of pitch
relationship of old, i.e. original 7 keyed,(or modern reproduction)
instruments, to modern, i.e., 20/21 century instr. I do know that early 20th
cent pitch was higher than the current
"trend". Was the pitch of the >19th century lower than today`s pitch? What
was it? Was it 430? When did 430
end, and what took it`s place? Were there any different "trends" before 430?
Is 430 a kind of guess as to what pitch Baerman was playing at?
And finally, could the difference between 430 and 440 be aesthetically
explained: or is it something which has taken place accidentally - is it an
>unimportant issue in the history of pitch & instrument manufacturing? When
I play along with Tony "cold" - ie, without warming up, and also with a
short barrel pushed fully on, (20th cent Leblanc Opus) I am bang on pitch
with the solo part. (Incidentally, I do have an excellent Aiwa cassette deck
which has just been fully serviced incl, a check on correct playing speed.)
I cannot reconcile this.
Kind Regards to the "Headless Man" ( as a recent naughty Brit. TV prog. has
it)
Tony W.

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