Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 2002/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Tuning for ensembles and larger
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 15:50:32 -0500

In a message dated 11/7/2002 2:10:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, b5w@-----.net writes:

<< Judging by the lack of response, I assume that my previous question was foolish; but I'm stuck with my inexperience, and I'm hoping someone will respond.>>

Bill, don't beat yourself up. It was a perfectly valid question, and is a point about which many people are confused.

First, please remember that even-temperament only exists in pre-tuned instruments. These include organs, pianos, and mallet percussion instruments.

(There are other tuning systems available by the way, quite a few of them if you want to investigate. IN NO way am I knowledgeable about these.)

Ensembles using winds and strings are "expected" to play using just intonation - the process of tuning unisons, octaves, and intervals by ear.

I have never, in 40 years of playing, been instructed to play using even-temperament.

The only time this comes up for a wind or string player is when you are playing with piano. It can come as quite a shock to play with a piano after a long string of performances with band or orchestra, of chamber ensembles. You will sometimes find youself quite confused, having to alter pitches in quite a different direction from what you normally think is necessary to "play in tune".

It is interesting to listen to groups, like piano trios - piano, violin, cello, - as they drift between the two tuning systems.

I hope this clarifies - a bit.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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