[CAUT] Old Pianos and Pitch change

[Richard Brekne]

Just had a real interesting experience with an older Steinway C from 
just after the turn of the century.  It has been pretty well maintained, 
tho it has a very clear case of the killer octave syndrom.  There is a 
certain degree of mystic surrounding it so its kept as is and used for 
various purposes.  Usually its held at 442.  This next two weeks it is 
to be used for a recording session and the requirements for pitch are 436. 

Two very curious things came out of the pitch change.  Number one the 
piano took on an entirely different character.  The killer octave and 
the glassy brilliance that the top area had simply disappeared.  
Whatever weakness of tone there was seemed transfered down into the 
middle C area... but was nearly indescernable. The bass had had many 
wild string pairs and this problem all but disappeared. The overall 
sound became in general very rounded off, and more full.  Brilliance was 
definitely there but not glassy.  Actually it became quite beautiful and 
balanced to my ears. 

The other thing that happened was that some of the people who are used 
to the instrument expressed deep concern as to how this would affect the 
instrument in the long run.  Indeed the fears raised bordered a 
declaration outright that the instruments tone will have been forever 
damaged by the pitch change.  Where does this kind of idea come from ?  
We are talking about a 23 cent pitch change taken over two days, two 
weeks of play there and then back up to 442 over a couple days.  The 
idea that this should somehow significantly change (read destroy) the 
tonal character of the instrument for ever is one I have never heard 
anyone declare anywhere before. Any comments ?

Expectable enough was the roughly 50 50 split on the subject of whether 
the temporary change in tone was a good thing or not :)

Cheers
RicB