Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 2004/11

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] pitch standard
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 00:46:18 -0500

Walter,

In my band I INSIST on 439! You will NOT have to use a short barrel with accompanying acoustical problems!
As a conductor, I find that we get a much better cornet sound at 439. We use 4 cornets and 2 trumpets (Claude Gordon Selmers). Typically our players are using old Boston 3* cornets (Cornety cornets, not trumpet cornets). Since the clarinet players available to us are often out of practice---despite being mostly local union players---439 is much more comfortable, as many of them can't get up to 440, and others are used to BITING up to 442, with the resulting schreechy sound that I WILL NOT TOLERATE! I want a nice FAT dark sound in my sections. (Yes, I guess I had better start a thread on the old "radio improved" manufacturing---marketing[?] stunts from the early 30's.)

Another advantage in our area, of using BAND PITCH instead of orchestra pitch, is that so many of our orchestras are using 442. If we tune to 440 we get an immediate slide by half the players to 442 and a CRINGING conductor---ME!!! Of course, we ARE a band!

Anyway, if you are in the Central or Northern California area, we will be seeking funding for concert series starting next year ---I hope! Our city, which is SUPER liberal, claims to be SOOOO union, but won't pay us even half scale, so we are going to seek private funding for the future! Clarinet players that are sick of playing 442 should contact me!

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Sent: Nov 8, 2004 1:26 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] pitch standard

In a message dated 11/8/2004 7:12:23 AM Central Standard Time,
bhausmann1@-----.net writes:
Some companies are advertising that their student clarinets are now pitched
at 442.

For most of the groups in the Chicago area, if you play at A=440, you are
woefully flat. In the groups I play in, we try to keep the pitch down, but when
we have people who come in from other groups, however, they are almost
always sharp and are anywhere from surprised to indignant that they have to tune
"down".

There is at least one orchestra here with which I will no longer play. The
last time I subbed with them, I was uncomfortably flat, even with my 64 mm
barrels. I was biting through my lip the entire evening. No fun at all.

It was interesting, that any time the conductor mentioned pitch, it was to
tell people that they were flat, never sharp. I guess we get what we ask for?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
World-class clarinet mouthpieces

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