Klarinet Archive - Posting 000379.txt from 2006/08

From: clarni bass <clarnibass@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: higher pitch standard in Europe?
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:23:07 -0400

--- kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:

> MY SUGGESTION IS THAT TUNING AN AMERICAN ORCHESTRA
> AT 442 WITH INSTRUMENTS DESIGNED TO PLAY AT 440
> MAKES THEM PLAY SO POORLY THAT IT DOES INDEED MAKE
> THEM SEEM TO CARRY. PURE STRIDENT!

I think this just can't be true. For evidence there is
the quote from Peter Eaton, but more than that the
part in the book "Clarinet" by Jack Brymer.
He gives an example of two clarinetists in the same
orchestra, who can play together in tune, and both use
the same model clarinet, same mouthpiece, and same
reed. But, when they switch clarinets, they play
completely out of tune with each other. That is
because one of them needs bigger tone holes and more
pad ventilation, and one of them needs smaller tone
holes and less pad ventilation, especially in the
throat notes. As long as there isn't a person to play
it, an instrument doesn't have a specific pitch (440
or 442 or anything).

Also, have you heard the Israel Philharmonic? They are
very good orchestra, and I know that at least some of
their clarinet players use the R13 clarinet to play
442, exactly the same model as most people in the USA
use to play 440 (or whatever pitch they use in the
USA). I doubt that a good player can't play 440 or 442
on the same instrument without much problem (at least
for clarinets). Just the big changes in weather cause
a huge intonation difference in the instruments in
comparison to any manufacturer pitch "intention". The
physical difference the weather will do to a clarinet
is bigger than the difference a manufacturer will make
between instuments meant to play 440 and 442.

Nitai

http://mail.yahoo.com

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