[CAUT] Killer Octave... so what ?

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Phil

The pitch was taken down because of recent research done as to the pitch 
Edvard Grieg himself used. The old wax roles were looked at closely and 
along with referencing many historical documents, the researches arrived 
at the conclusion that Grieg usually played around 434-436.  This was 
not uncommon at the time either. If you play his wax roles so as to 
arrive at a pitch of 442 they sound incredibly fast playing and rather 
comical. 

The producers here wanted to reproduce phrase for phrase what Grieg's 
playing style was.  So referring to digital copies of the old wax 
recordings at the pitch they believe was correct and then reproducing 
these on Grieg's own piano rather required having the instrument at the 
same pitch. One could have of course sped up the digital versions of the 
wax recordings... but that would have made it difficult to emulate 
Grieg's style.  And... they also wanted to get the same tonal pallet 
that a lower pitch yeilds.

I believe the killer octave improved because the lower tension across 
the board equates to a slight reduction in corresponding down bearing 
over the entire panel (depending on bearing angle at any given place of 
course)  And because the string plane as a whole represents a less stiff 
vibrating plane for the panel to deal with.  Essentially, the panel 
becomes more stiff relative to the string plane... only because the 
string plane itself becomes physically less stiff.  Thats my best guess 
at any rate. 

If you compare the link to the MP3 to the very short bit with the TV 
spot you may be able to discern some of the change.. tho the TV spot 
sound was only done with a camera mounted microphone.

Cheers
RicB


    Ric, why did you tune down to 436 in the first
    place?

    I can understand the bass being improved, but
    the killer octave? We have to take your word on
    it..but why the 24 cent pitch reduction?

    -Phil Bondi(Fl)