[pianotech] tuning cold pianos (for Inauguration)

[Farrell]

And I wonder......  Here's a quote of Jeff Multer, Concertmaster of the Florida Orchestra, from today's St. Petersburg Times: 

"Any extreme of temperature is bad on your insturment. The colder it is, the less moisture there is in the air, and that affects you. It's really hard for pitch. They played it beautifully."

So either they played it live, or they fooled this guy.......

So maybe it's still up in the air - is it live or is it recorded????? I sure didn't notice anything off-pitch.

I don't know Mr. Multer personally, but I presume he is a well-versed musician. However, it appears he is not much of a scientist! His statement: "The colder it is, the less moisture there is in the air..." is just plain wrong. The opposite is true (all else being equal).

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:20 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] tuning cold pianos (for Inauguration)


  This is all I can say at the moment. If I get a release, I can give you more information.

  The musicians decided to use a pre-recorded track they made on Sunday at the Marine Corps  
  Band's recording studio on their Hamburg B.

  Maybe more to follow.

  Al

    From: JimWilsonian at aol.com 
    Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 6:54 PM
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] tuning cold pianos (for Inauguration)


      Actually, my musso friends and I wondered if what we were hearing was in fact "live".  Granted, we're talking Itzak, Yo Yo and other amazing players, but (a) sonically it was perfect, (b) everyone's pitch was spot on -- even in 20 degree weather, and (c) I don't recall the instruments being miked or wired.  (Maybe they were and I didn't notice.)  Anyone else wonder if they were perhaps playing along to a pre-recorded track?


    Jim Wilson


      Re: tuning cold pianos (for Inauguration)

      On a related topic, I wonder who tuned the piano used outside at Barack Obama's inauguration. Must have been a real challenge - those were a few high-end performers on the stage - and the temperature sure looked COLD - and I noticed the sun shining directly on the piano (oh my!).

      Terry Farrell






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