Klarinet Archive - Posting 000198.txt from 2005/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Upward Creeping pitch
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 16:35:35 -0400

Nancy - I commiserate and sympathize deeply. The situation that you describe
is a miserable one. I know, as it recently happened to me a few years ago
when I subbed for a friend in a local orchestra. I had brought along an
assortment of barrels, but not my shortest (my shortest barrels get my pitch higher
but really wreck my scale).

A half hour into the rehearsal, I was branded as "flat" by the conductor. I
knew, of course, that I was well over 440. It was an interesting experience,
as the tuning note given was a perfect 440.

Interestingly enough, ANY intonation problem was labeled as "flatness".
Clearly the conductor preferred the higher pitches.

As the rehearsal proceeded, I was able to check the pitch of both the first
oboe and the first flute. They were merrily playing along at a 444 pitch
level. There was just no way I could match their pitch level comfortanly with the
equipment I had with me.

It was a miserable two and a half hours, and I hated every note I played.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
World-class clarinet mouthpieces
New Buffet clarinet
Restored Used Clarinets

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