[pianotech] concert pitch

[David Ilvedson]

Likely, they usually played with pianos that hadn't been tuned...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: Allan <allan at sutton.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 4/28/2009 7:25:41 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] concert pitch


>I sat on a 3 day recording of the Fibonacci Trio last week-end. The
>violinist expressed some concern that the piano be too low. We agreed that I
>would tune the Yamaha C 7 at 441.
>She was happy. She said after half an hour of working: "We always play with
>badly tuned pianos, WHAT did you do to this one? 

>Allan Sutton
>www.pianotechniquemontreal.com

>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of Raymond Irving
>Sent: 28 avril 2009 11:04
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] concert pitch

>Hi Renee,

>In the US, orchestra pitch levels vary from A=440 up to A=442. I can't  
>recall who, if anybody, go higher than that (at least in this  
>country). I am a double bassist, and I often sub with the Maryland  
>Symphony Orchestra, where the pitch level is A=440. We've never had a  
>"temperamental" artist have a problem with that. String instruments  
>react very much the same as pianos in regard to pitch changes. The  
>"soundboard" (top), bridges, and strings are fighting the changes.  
>Afterwards, of course, returning the instrument to the original  
>pitch......Having said that, even the orchestras that tune to A=440  
>seldom actually DO. We string players have a tendency to tune ever so  
>slightly sharp. Perhaps the thinking goes like this. Since it's a  
>cardinal sin to play flat (sharp is okay???), nobody wants to sound  
>flatter than their neighbor, even if your pitch is dead on A=440. Any  
>psychologists on the list care care to comment?

>Perhaps this is why certain artists request a higher pitch. When I  
>wear my piano technician hat, I do mainly in-home service, and very  
>seldom get asked about pitch level. I go with "standard" A=440.

>Ray Irving



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