Hans wrote: > If the pitch goes that high, it is terribly difficult for the singers. But > A=452, I cannot believe.
Tuning pitch in England seemed to fly up to quite high values in the latter 1/2 of the 19th century. I don't know why - it seems crazy, but there is some quite interesting data on this in relation to antique English flutes on: http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/eng_pitch.html 1813 424 Original Philharmonic pitch (Ellis) 1820 433 c.1820 A=433, London. "Pitch approved by Sir George Smart, conductor of the Philharmonic. " 1852-1874 A= 452.5, London. Average pitch of the Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Sir Michael Costa (1846-54). Broadwood's tuner Mr. J. Black tuned to this pitch. Broadwood retained this pitch for concerts until 1874 when it was raised to A=454.7. 1874 453 As above 1874 455 1874 A=454.7, London. Fork representing the highest pitch used in Philharmonic concerts. Used as the highest pitch used by the Broadwood Piano Co. 1876 A= 446.7, London. Concert pitch. 1877 450 1877 A=449.9, London. Standard fork used by Collard piano Co. 1877 454 1877 A=454.1, London. From a tuning fork used by Hipkins to tune for the Crystal Palace concerts. 1878 448 1878 A=448.1, London. Tuning fork made by Walker. 1878 450 1878 A=449.9, London. Covent Garden opera orchestra during performance as measured by Hipkins. 1878 452 1878 A=451.9, London. British army regulations. Pitch for wind instruments. 1879 450 1879 A=449.7, London. Pitch of the opera orchestra at Covent Garden during performance. 1879 455 1879 A=454.7, London. Tuning fork used by Steinway & Sons to tune pianos in London. 1879 455 1879 A= 455.3, London. From a tuning fork representing the concert pitch used by the Erard Piano Company. 1909 452 452.4 confirmed for military bands Modern Pitch References (circa 440Hz) 1895 439 Philharmonic Soc adopts DN, but at [EMAIL PROTECTED] rather than [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1899 440 Covent Garden Opera (Hipkis) 1899 439 Queens' Hall Orchestra (Hipkis) 1927 439 King's Regulation adopts 439 for military bands 1939 440 Adopted at International conference Most of this is obtained from old tuning forks etc. It is pretty crazy the way pitch in England varied so much, but there you are! Cheers, Graeme Evans (Principal Horn, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) +61 3 9318 0690(H), +61 419 880371(B), +61 3 93180893(Fax) E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
