Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 2005/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Low pitch - hgh pitch (was: Pruefer Clarinet)
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 23:04:36 -0400

At 11:36 PM 10/16/2005 -0700, Ormondtoby Montoya wrote:
>Out of curiosity, I browsed in dictionaries about pitch standards.
>Apparently there was once a recognized and formal definition which took
>temperature into account. That is, "a" was a different frequency in
>cold venues than in warm venues. In those days, many theaters were not
>heated and hence the flexible standard.

Just like the meter was originally defined as the length of a particular
stick at a certain temperature (to negate expansion and contraction
effects), A was also so defined, as far as the manufacture and adjustment
at the factory was concerned. In actual performance, as is true today, the
pitch might vary from venue to venue due to ambient temperature, and a
common pitch source would be used, such as the oboe (wherever that pitch
might be that day and place). It was not any set standard but mere
practicality.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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