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Tuning to more than one pitch

Author: davyd
Date: 2011-11-23 04:25

Recently, some of the community ensembles I play in have taken a novel approach to the tuning ritual that begins each rehearsal.

In orchestra, the oboist gives a Bb for winds and brass, and an A for strings. In concert band, the oboist gives a Bb for brass and an A for woodwinds. Bear in mind: both ensembles are made up of amateurs, with a wide range of abilities (and disabilities).

I'm supposing that the thinking here is to provide the respective instrument families with a tuning note more suited for them. No doubt there's some benefit to that; in particular, I'm informed that A440 is not a good note for valved brass. But does that benefit outweigh the fact that different sections have tuned to different pitches?

Is bitonal tuing a creative idea? Or is it totally stupid? Or somewhere in between? Your thoughts, please!

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