Klarinet Archive - Posting 000162.txt from 2005/10

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Upward Creeping pitch
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:55:06 -0400

Walter,

My understanding about why it is the tradition for the oboe to give
the pitch, is quite different. Don't know where I heard this, and I
have no authoritative resource to back it up, but I was told that in
early orchestras, oboe was the least stable instrument, so it was
easier to accept whatever could be generated by it than to fight it.

I do, however, agree with you about the folly of continuing to climb
above 440. Many pro flutes are now built to 442 and Deagon mallet
instruments are pitched at 442. Clarinets often have a terrible time
pulling up to these sharper pitch levels.

RB

On Oct 18, 2005, at 11:19 AM, GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:

> 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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