the pitchraise: What to not tune to 440?

[Mike and Jane Spalding]

Hi DL

In 1859 a French commission approved A435 as a standard.  It is referred to as French Pitch, or International Pitch.  My source is a paper by Ed Swenson, RPT called The History of Pitch, which you can read and download at his website http://www.mozartpiano.com.  Much of his data comes from Alexander Ellis.  It also appears that piano makers in Germany and the US were tuning as high as 457 during the latter part of the 19th century.

hope this helps

Mike Spalding RPT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: D.L. Bullock <dlbullock@att.net>
To: Pianotech@Ptg. Org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: the pitchraise: What to not tune to 440?


> I have many pianos that I tune to A-435.  These are sometimes cast into the
> plate "Tune to A-435" but most of them are not.  Since I have done so many
> historic pianos, vellum action, birdcage upright, and single escapement
> grand action pianos, I usually tune anything built before 1890 to A-435.
> There were a few top brand companies who built pianos before that to be
> tuned to A-440 but most of them did not.  If I can ever find them again, I
> have references to give a guideline for what should be tuned to what since,
> at one time, all companies basically had their own preferred pitch for their
> pianos.  As time passed, those several pitches winnowed down to the two we
> know about and for some time before the adoption of A-440 as universal
> pitch, A-435 was most often used.
> 
> Of course, some of these pre 1890 pianos are very likely to not be tunable
> until after restoration.  Remember, if you attempt to restore one of these,
> KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING and do not try to make it a modern piano.  It is not
> and never will be that.
> 
> Some Tuning guidelines---
> Square grands, square pianos, pedestal pianos, tune to A-435
> Birdcage uprights, doghouse uprights, giraffe uprights, tune to A-435.
> Early wing shaped, straight strung, and early overstrung grands that have
> single escapement, tune to A-435.
> Some of these early pianos will be permanently damaged by tuning to A-440.
> I have heard that some of them have exploded by going to A-440, but I have
> not had that happen yet.
> 
> I did have one that stumped me at first but I think I have now decided that
> they meant tune to A-435.  This piano said "Tune to French Pitch"  I believe
> they may have referred to Erard pianos, the worldwide trend setter (and who
> first used double escapement) who used A-435.  Does anyone have any
> documentation that would indicate that French Pitch is anything other than
> a-435?  I would appreciate finding a copy of your documentation, please.
> 
> Hope this helps you not damage something.
> 
> D.L. Bullock
> www.thepianoworld.com
> St. Louis
> 
>