<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content='"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=GENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Ric and list,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>    Musicians will = try to play in tune with whatever is happening around them.  That is an important = part of being a musician.  When the pitch is pushed up, one must make sure = the instrument in use can go up with it.  When someone has decided that = the orchestra will tune to 442, that is what the musicians must do.  I = am a trombonist, and I've have had to shorten instruments in order to tune to = a higher pitch.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>    When we consider = temperament, a musician should be able to follow the intonation of the keyboard = instrument in the ensemble.  Granted, it's easier for strings and trombones, but = everyone in the ensemble should be able to adjust pitches as necessary, no matter = what the instrument.  It is one thing that separates the players from = the genuine musicians.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>    Playing with a = tempered instrument introduces new rules of intonation into a situation, = especially a solo with piano accompaniment.  There is probably not as much to be = considered in a modern orchestra due to the constant vibrato of the = strings that produce what I would call an "average" pitch.  The pitch = of the tempered, fixed-pitch instrument is probably within the range of the = vibrato of the strings.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>    Brilliance = (brightness) can always be dialed into electronically produced, or reproduced, music, but = live music is something else.  The general attitude is that a higher = pitch allows for more brilliance.  This was apparently believed by = Leonard Bernstein, who is credited by many with having a major role in the = upward trend of orchestral pitch. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Mike Keener</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>------------------------------<BR><BR><<Date: Fri, 29 Oct = 1999 22:08:08 -0500<BR>>From: "Richard Moody" <<A href="mailto:remoody@easnet.net">remoody@easnet.net</A>><BR>>Subj= ect: Re: Baroque Festival<BR>><BR>>The other consideration that seems = seldom considered is that the<BR>>HT's are done from C as the starting = note.  I know it can be<BR>>figured to make a'  come out to 442 or 440.   But you can<BR><imagine the hassel of one temp = having a different pitch for C<BR><(c'') than another. The other consideration = is what about the<BR><other instruments of fixed pitch, oboe, flute, bassoon,<BR><clarinet, etc. are they build for ET, or just = diatonic?  It<BR><would be interesting to have a "gab" session with a symphony<BR><orchestra to hear about problems of intonation when = playing with<BR><tempered instruments, and discuss the problems of tuning = pianos to<BR><other than an international fixed pitch, which should be A440. = <BR><Some where some time someone must answer the question, = <BR><why go higher with International Pitch? If not it will go to 445, and = I<BR><have heard some European orchestras are already attempting this.<BR><I = hear of singers objecting to  442.   I know many reasons as a<BR><piano tuner to keep A440.  I am sure piano manufacturers would<BR><like to preserve A440. <BR><And what are the reasons to = go higher.  "Brilliance".   ? ?  <BR><Why = they think pitch has something to with this is beyond me. <BR><They have = pianos with hardner in the hammers.  They have horns I<BR><am told with = space age designed mouth pieces to get a brighter<BR><tone.  Cymbals = have become brighter through modern technology.<BR><Modern buildings can = be designed accoustically "brighter".  CDs<BR><now with = walkman type head phones "that make the inside of your<BR><head sound = like you wish Davies hall did.".(Herb Caen) give a<BR><new dimension with = a wider range of "eq"  ie more "higher end"<BR><ie brightness.   Solid state electronics have given loudspeaker<BR><music an extra bite of brilliance. And they want = more?  And<BR><somehow they think that will come from raising = pitch??<BR><They must have tin ears.---ric>><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>----------------------------------------------------------------= ------------</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>