Hi all! I've encountered a clarinetist in my little musical world who insists on pianos being pitched at A442. He has a Yamaha horn and says that "they don't even make their clarinets tunable to A440". He also states that almost ALL of the major U.S. symphonies are tuned to A442. Are these statements accurate? Let's just say that up to this point I've been "accommodating" to his pitch preference. (up here in the Great White North, I have to correct pitch A LOT, and eight cents isn't all that much, to be frank). But it does get old, doesn't it? Anyway, do clarinetists prefer narrow octaves or wide octaves? How do I keep this guy happy? (as he is quite influential in this little cosmos) My ears are open to suggestions...do you have any? Stay Tuned! Mike Hoffman, RPT Marquette, MI Mike; I'm not sure what your clarinetist is talking about. Clarinets are pitched many ways, for example Bflat, A, Eflat and C. The pitch is determined by the length, the diameter and the taper of the internal bore of the instrument. Clarinets have what is called a barrel joint, the piece between the mouthpiece and the top section with keys, which can be adjusted in and out to accommodate pitch variations. I was a concert clarinetist overseas for about 8 years before I returned to the U.S. My instruments had no trouble playing with pianos pitched at A440. However, as with all woodwinds, when you change the length of the instrument, the scale gets distorted. This becomes uncomfortable when the changes in length are gross, for instance having to play at A435 with a modern instrument. My A-clarinet was perfectly happy at A440. It did the Brahms trios and quintet quite well. The orchestras didn't complain either. Your clarinetist is correct in his assertion that most U.S. orchestras tune to A442. European orchestras tune even higher. Hope this helps. Doug Kirkwood, RPT New Hampshire, Chapter
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