Klarinet Archive - Posting 000161.txt from 2005/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Upward Creeping pitch
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:21:18 -0400

In a message dated 10/18/2005 11:08:11 AM Central Daylight Time,
or3mondtoby@-----.net writes:
I wonder why that is? Simply in order that their oboes will stand out
above the remainder of the orchestra, similar to strings sneaking
upwards in order to take center stage?>>

No, I am sure in most cases it is so the poor oboes stand a half a chance of
keeping up with the rest of the orchestra. One of the reasons that the oboe
was selected to be the "keeper" of the tuning "A" is that oboes are among the
least flexible instruments, pitch-wise, in the entire orchestra.

Orchestras tend to rise in pitch. It is a peculiarity of the human ear/mind
that when we hear two pitches that do not match, we often select the higher
pitch as the "correct" one. Usually, then, the correction in fixing an out of
tune passage is for the lower pitch to rise to match the higher pitch,
"correct" or not. I am not saying this is right, I am just saying that this is what
happens.

As the old saying goes "I'd rather be sharp than out of tune!"

Some people think that orchestras sound "more brilliant" at a higher pitch.

It's a never ending battle.

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

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