Klarinet Archive - Posting 000364.txt from 2004/11

From: "David Renaud" <manonrivet@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: pitch standard
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 13:51:25 -0500


A piano pitch is very slightly sharper upon attack.
It normally drops slightly as it sustains.
----------------------------------------------------
As for the other stuff, I have explained myself poorly,
and assumed some conventions.
And the initial question was can anybody
hear it, does it make any difference.

I was assuming all analysis from an ideal curve in a given harmonic
context.
That ideal curve may very well go 20 cents + sharp in the top end.
But the ideal spot at a given moment, wherever it is needs to be placed
within
.5 cent to sound very good. At the basis of that curve serves my horns
far better at A440, then 439 or 442. For example when I say accuracy to .5
of a cent.
I did not mean accurate to a flat line dictating needle to .5 of a cent. But
accurate
to its ideal spot. And to this pitch drift, and you get the confusion about
accuracy.

But that there is an ideal spot for a note......and we can analyse that spot
to .1 cent, and should demand it be there within .5 cents. That accuracy
to .5 cents may very well be 20+ cents sharp in the top octave and
furthermore
be on the move with drift.

That ideal spot is dictated by the context. In the high end may indeed be
20 cents sharp in some cases. And I hope the center of that curve
keeps A at 440 as much as possible, for intonation get strange
when it is too far off....even A439, deviations multiply out octaves
exponentailly.

I am not talking here about drift...which can be very large, but tuning
accuracy
to where things are at a given moment.

Indeed if you are taking 4 cents at midrange would become as we go up
octaves
8 cents, become 16 cent, becomes 32 cents deviation to match octaves.

Back to pitch standard of A440.
Pulling down to A439 does change the intonation of my clarinet.
An A440 4 cents deviation some claim is nothing becomes much more
up and down ocatves exponentially. 4 octaves up it is a 32 cent deviation to
match.

I understand what people are saying about band drift, high note placement,
tempered variation.......all of that can be explained, but none of that
negates
the value of the central standard at A4. In fact the profoundness of drift
very well
expended on, and the exponential octave expansion of deviation makes A440
even more
important to pursue as a central touchstone.

I apoligize if I have taken this personelly, and expressed my fustration to
the list.
I am coming at this from a different background. I talk of deviations off
their
proper placement, not off a flat line. That proper placement is indeed
organic.

Cheers
Dave Renaud

Cheers
Dave
Renaud

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ormondtoby Montoya" <orm1ondtoby@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] RE: pitch standard

> Adam wrote:
>
> > A temperament is only required with fixed
> > pitch instruments
>
> Not having a piano myself, and when thinking how playing 'fff' can
> flatten a clarinet note (if you don't make some effort to compensate),
> I've wondered whether a piano has a similar issue? Namely, does the
> pitch of a 'high qualty' piano change even the least little bit
> depending on how hard or fast or 'far down' you hit the keys?
>
>
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>

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