<WBR>One thing that has not been mentioned in all of this is that as much as the orchestra members try to tune to the oboe at 440, it's ironic that the mallet instruments and the harp in most orchestras are tuned to 442. Yet no one ever says anything about it. I discovered that just before one of the Tuscaloosa Orchestra concerts, when the harp was tuning just as I got there to tune the piano. We discussed the pitch, and sure enough, her tuning devise was pitched at 442, and I checked several mallet instruments and found them all at 442. So much for the "entire" orchestra being on pitch.<br> <br> <div style="CLEAR: both">Wim<br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Kendall Ross Bean <kenbean@pacbell.net><br> To: 'College and University Technicians' <caut@ptg.org><br> Sent: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:01 am<br> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Barbie tuner, Oboist's dilemma; Parting "shots"<br> <br> </div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2> <STYLE>@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 font-face { font-family: SimSun;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 font-face { font-family: SimSun;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 font-face { font-family: Calibri;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 font-face { font-family: Tahoma;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 font-face { font-family: @SimSun;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; }#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 P.MsoNormal { =2 0 FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-style-type: personal}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 SPAN.EmailStyle19 { COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-style-type: personal-reply}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 .MsoChpDefault { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-style-type: export-only}#AOLMsgPart_2_239ee37b-6f12-4435-9360-83b10513c1b2 DIV.Section1 { page: Section1}</STYLE> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>One last post on this (and then I'm gone!):</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face =Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>As I was attempting to understand the dilemma of the unfortunate oboe player (as is my wont, to try and fathom the position of the underdog in any conflict) I came across a lengthy passage on oboes from Norman Del Mar's  "Anatomy of the Orchestra" -a book which I have found to be a fabulous resource in helping me understand, among other things, "temperamental" instrumentalists, and what might cause them to be that way. You may find the following information useful:</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>(To avoid directly quoting what Norman says, and consequent problems arising therefrom, I will paraphrase/summarize:)</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>Apparently... "Giving the A" for the orchestra is one of the most important duties/responsibilites of the principle oboist. Not only does he/she do this for the entire orchestra, but also for honored soloists when they make appearances with the orchestra. (KRB: All except piano soloists, which of course, would be silly...). </SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN cl ass=090405919-26072008>Not infrequently, oboists are actually challenged over the pitch they have given, and principal oboists often carry a tuning fork around with them, which they consult before boldly declaring the pitch to the orchestra members (and also which they check afterwards, to make sure, and also during the performance....and on the way home...and in bed that night...and while falling asleep... -KRB ;-)  ) Also, not infrequently, orchestra managements have toyed with the idea of just having some sort of mechanical or electronic pitch reference for a "guaranteed" A440, in place of the oboe, which well-meaning management personnel have felt would be an ideal solution, and would stop the disputes... But apparently this has been tried and not found to be effective, the orchestra members having found the mechanical or electronic device too "characterless", and it actually has irritated orchestra members....</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>In the orchestra, also, pitch is apparently not so much a function of mechanical accuracy as of compromise and agreement. (Think, equal temperament: everyone has to agree. -KRB) The truth is, after the initial "tuning" of the orchestral instruments to the oboe's reference, (regardless of how careful an adjustment),  few instruments retain that pitch for longer than a few minutes, due to changing temperatu res in the hall, instruments continuing to warm up, (or cool down while long rests are observed) some instruments cannot change as much as others, and some are more capable of accomodating others, (and myriad other factors). So the other chief responsibility of oboe (and other woodwind) players is to constantly be able to adapt and adjust to the pitches of his fellow players. (In other words, give the pitch reference, then try and adapt to what everyone else is doing for the rest of the evening.)</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>On cold days, or very damp ones, experienced conductors, knowing the instruments are going to change with the temperature, often let orchestras play or rehearse for a respectable interval before calling on the oboe to tune the orchestra.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>The virtues that qualify the oboe as the official arbiter of pitch are: (get ready for this) "His maximum expressive power, and....his relative lack of flexibility."</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>Because of this the other me mbers of the orchestra are expected to pay him particular courtesy.....</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>Hope this helps. I'm outa here.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>-Kendall Ross Bean</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008>PitchFinders</SPAN></FONT></div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=090405919-26072008><EM>Connecting Perfect Pitch with Reality</EM></SPAN></FONT></div> <br> <div class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> Jim Busby [<A href="mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu?">mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu</A>] <br> <B>Sent:</B> Saturday, July 26, 2008 8:56 AM<br> <B>To:</B> College and University Technicians<br> <B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Barbie tuner, 106 trumps Accutuner<br> </FONT><br> </div> <div></div> <div class=Section1> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">True, true.</SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN></div> 0A<div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Well, maybe not the part ”</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is obviously a major stressor for him.”</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> He seems to be major GIVER of stress. Yesterday his accompanyist had a major row with him, and the day before the Conductor of the orchestra was upset with him to the point of leaving. Both directors of the conference are ready to strangle him.   </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">You’re right. I need to have compassion… (I certainly like it from other towards me!) Maybe the guy is mental or something. (I know I am ;-)</SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Regards,</SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Jim</SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN></div> <div> <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <div class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">caut-bounces@ptg.org</A> [<A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org</A>] <B>On Behal f Of </B>Kendall Ross Bean<br> <B>Sent:</B> Saturday, July 26, 2008 12:49 AM<br> <B>To:</B> 'College and University Technicians'<br> <B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Barbie tuner, 106 trumps Accutuner</SPAN></div> </div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal> </div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Jim, Jim~</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">When will you learn? ;-)</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">All you have to do is tune one measly piano, -and you can take a couple of hours (or more) to do it.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This poor oboe player has to tune 106 different musicians, all with different instruments, all at the same time. And he has approximately 30 seconds to do it (if that).</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> < div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">And you can bet every one of those 106 musicians is going to be razzing him, at some point, about his pitch being off.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Providing a perfect A440 is his job description. -Look how many folks are depending on him. -Sure he takes it seriously. If he doesn't he may lose his job. (And most oboeists are "Aural" tuners - they know nothing about ETD's or Accutuners!)  Ever wonder how oboe players get their pitch? -These "barbie tuners" are a relatively recent innovation. What did oboeists do before that, ever wonder? Do they have...  <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Perfect Pitch</SPAN></EM>...  uh oh, don't go there....</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">(Most of your pianists don't even know when their piano is off-pitch. They couldn't do anything about it anyway, even if they wanted to (except to call you! ) But instrumentalists, they have to be really concerned with intonation, it's a major issue for them.)</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">(That trumps your Accutuner. -Any day of the week. Did you know that when a pianist performs a piano concerto with an orchestra, the orchestral musicians-- --reluctantly-- --grudgingly-- --have to adapt/bend their usual intonation to accomodate the equally tempered piano? No wonder the oboist gets upset! And a lot of other musicians as well!)</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">You don't tune a piano differently when you know it is going to be used with an orchestra, do you.  -No, I didn't think so. Pianists, <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">and</SPAN></EM> piano tuners, can be so oblivious...  ;-)</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Have some compassion for the guy. This i s obviously a major stressor for him.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">;-) </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">~Kendall Ross Bean</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Piano&OboeFinders</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-Connecting pianos and oboes</SPAN></EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> Jim Busby [<A href=" mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu?">mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu</A>] <br> <B>Sent:</B> Friday, July 25, 2008 2:34 PM<br> <B>To:</B> College and University Technicians<br> <B>Subject:</B> [CAUT] Barbie tuner</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></div> <div class=MsoNormal>List,</div> <div class=MsoNormal> </div> <div class=MsoNormal>I won’t name the fellow, but at the International Double Reed Society conference here at BYU there is this “oboist” who is running around with this tiny guitar tuner complaining that all the instruments are off. He confronted me before one of his performances saying that the pitch of the Shigeru was not A440 but was A442. He said the Hamburg D was also A442 (Was supposed to be at A443). I told him I was confident the pitch was where it was supposed to be on both instruments and that maybe his small tuner was off. BAD thing to say! Boy was he mad! After his performance, when most the people were gone, the head honcho watched me measure the pianos. Less than 4/10ths of one cent off… (Dang! Will I ever learn to keep my pitch dead on?)</div> <div class=MsoNormal> </div> <div class=MsoNormal>Funny, but almost all his high notes were extremely flat. Or maybe I’m just dreaming…</div> <div class=MsoNormal> </div> <div class=MsoNormal>Jim Busby</div> <div class=MsoNormal> </div> <div class=MsoNormal>p.s. Other than this unfortunate experience everyone else is very nice and complimentary.20</div> </div> </div> <div id='u8CABD94EFFD946A-7C8-268F' class='aol_ad_footer'><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">The Famous, the Infamous, the Lame - in your browser. <A title="http://toolbar.aol.com/tmz/download.html?NCID=aolcmp00050000000014" href="http://toolbar.aol.com/tmz/download.html?NCID=aolcmp00050000000014" target="_blank">Get the TMZ Toolbar Now</A>!</FONT> </div>