The Oboe BBoard

The Oboe BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: Playing In Tune -- Or Not?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-12-12 14:45

Several years ago I played at a high church service where the organ was tuned (or had detuned) to around around 432-435Hz, so it was hard work for us woodwinds to play down to pitch. The Royal Marines oboist had to play a solo during communion and struggled to play that low for the duration. In this instance there isn't much that can be done as the organ can't be retuned within a short time period, likewise with pianos which have lost their tuning.

But quite honestly why any woodwind player should have to play down to a flat pitched stringed instrument is beyond belief when they're the ones that have the ability to tune their instruments to any pitch within reason within seconds - we can't do much as our instruments are built to a specific pitch with very little leeway. While we all have to play in tune with the ensemble, if the general pitch goes too far either way, there isn't much we can do.

I was doing Seussical the other week and had a look over at the glockenspiel (made by Yamaha) which had 442Hz stamped on one of the bars. Similarly, flutes tend to be built to 442Hz nowadays which explains the sharp 8ves, especially the upper register and top register which are often painfully sharp if the player hasn't done much to correct it. The hardest thing I have to do is play in tune with flutes and the rest of the ensemble as flutes push the pitch up and clarinets pull the pitch down. Bassoons are all over the place as are some horns when they use some natural harmonics which are out of tune with other instruments (usually the 7th harmonic which is flat).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics