A440 VS A442

[Horace Greeley]

Hi, Ron,

There has been quite a thread on this fairly lately on the list.  You 
might check the archives.  Also, I understand that there will be a 
column on this in the Journal soon.

There is another alternative, of course, and that is to have a second 
D...don't laugh, it's been done more than once.

More later, perhaps.

Best.

Horace




At 07:52 PM 1/25/2006, you wrote:
>  Hi Friends
>
>I have the privilege of tuning a Hamburg Steinway "D" 9 foot for a 
>local large church which is also the home of our local Vero Beach 
>Symphonic Association and other concerts.
>
>For the the church ,the piano is kept at A440 to match a fine pipe 
>organ. The problem is that we have many concerts that feature 
>European orchestra's and artists that in their contracts have asked 
>and/or demanded A442.  It is my understanding that they think this 
>makes the treble brighter.This would not be a problem with the 
>exception that every time we have to tune the piano 442 it requires 
>being tuned again to 440 after the concerts. The piano is then 
>rather unstable for a while
>
>I have suggested that there isn't an ear in the world that can hear 
>the difference between 440 and 442 and that the  Symphonic 
>Association should just send back the contract with the 442 crossed 
>out and 440 put in it;s place. We have done that this year with no 
>problem, however, several of our very fine local artist  and 
>customers which are involved with the association are concerned that 
>it will come back to bite us. I have had times in my past when a 
>stage manager or other representative of the artists/orchestra would 
>check the pitch to make sure it was 442.
>
>To back up my argument, Last year we had the Prague Symphony  with 
>an outstanding artist. Along with the usual symphonic program they 
>performed a Beethoven Concerto.I went up, as usual, prior to the 
>concert to check on the piano which I had tuned to A442 as 
>requested. I asked the conductor, "why the 442" to which I got all 
>kinds of broken english replies and concerns about the piano having 
>to be at 442 because of the woodwinds and stringed instruments, 
>etc.,etc.,etc..  Then the 1st violinist came rushing up all 
>concerned about my question and in a huff demanding that the piano 
>had to be 442. I calmed them down and told them that they could rest 
>easy because the piano was at 442. I was just curious as to why.
>
>After a few numbers, It came time for the concert artist to come 
>forth for the piano concerto.  The 1st violinist walked over to the 
>piano. She struck an A major chord, walked away from the piano and 
>probably 5-10 seconds later strummed what she thought was , I 
>suppose, A442.  The artist came forth, the concerto began and I sat 
>there with shiivers going up and down my spine as I listened to a 
>piano at A442 and a orchestra closer to 430 if that.
>
>Do any of you other concert tuners have similar problems,experiences 
>or suggestions? So far we have had no problem with the season at 440 
>but as I mentioned before, there are those local excellent artists 
>that are concerned.
>
>I know that A442 is popular in other parts of the world. Steinway, 
>Hamburg stipulates 442 in their specifications. I also understand 
>that some instruments such as clairnets, etc are manufactured at 
>442.  Is it time to change this standard and tune our pianos to 442?
>
>Thank you for your thoughts and input.
>
>Ron May, RPT
>Vero Beach, FL
>
>
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