Floating pitch -- & ear plugs

[Richard Brekne]

I think in most University situations the concert instruments that are to be
played with fixed pitch instruments are going to be held to concert pitch. At
least thats my experience with the University techs I know. Floating pitch is of
course not an opption in those situations. But that doesnt apply to most of the
other instruments. Heck in most climates and many (if not most) schools, 1
technician running 50 + instruments a year is going to have his/her hands full
keeping all instruments playing smoothly, clean from foreign objects, reasonably
maintained, and tuned in the most loose sense of the word. Keeping all 50 +
instruments at  A440 +/- 0.2 cents is simply not neccessary in most cases anyways.
Much more important IMHO to insure reasonable voicing and playability.

Cheers

RicB

Greg Newell wrote:

> Mark,
>          Do you then float up or down within this 4-5 cent window? If so
> why? Do you really find that the piano is unstable when correcting for this
> minor amount? What if the orchestra is also using some other fixed pitch
> instrument? What if you really don't know how the piano will be used? or
> with what other instrument? String segments and wire tension
> notwithstanding the judgement call being made is that it's not important to
> maintain standard pitch? is this the call your comfortable deciding for
> yourself?
>
> respectfully,
>
> Greg Newell
>
>

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
UiB, Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html