This is very interesting to me, because an old friend recently alerted me to a new line of thinking claiming that 432Hz OUGHT to be true concert pitch. There are websites devoting a lot of space to articles and discussions about this. http://www.omega432.com/music.html http://www.solfeggiotones.com/432-hz/ http://radicalfilms.co.uk/2007/12/26/a-432hz-vs-a-440hz-a-sonic-experiment-fascinating/ People claim things like "it FEELS better", or "it's the harmonic frequency of the universe" ... ("New Age" / "Airy-Fairey" ...) As a piano technician with perfect pitch, I'm pretty locked into 440. But it's fun to experiment with other pitches and temperments. Plus, I am human and cannot say that I'm ALWAYS spot on standard pitch, although I'm usually so close it doesn't matter. I still use a fork to set A4. But when it comes to tuning my lute or guitar I just "ear" it. I tune my lute low. Sometimes I tune my guitar a smidge higher when playing solo to get a brighter sound. In fact, that's one reason pitch has risen over the past few hundred years - more string tension = higher volume and brighter sound. Even today some orchestras tune to 442 -444, to take advantage of this effect. Anthony, if you ever decide you'd like to part with your 433 fork I'd be interested in having it. Then maybe I, too, can be in harmony with the universe! (Or close to it?) Tom
> Dear luthenists > A friend gave me an amusing tuning fork, which is clearly of > some age. > I am not (here) in a position to be able to load a photo of it, but > it fits into a tight wooden case, and at the end of this there is a > hollow metal peg. I quickly realized that if you place the case on > a table, and set the tuning fork ringing while holding it in the > metal peg's hollow, the resonance is amplified. I measure the > resonance as 433Hz. Would this be the London Philharmonic Orchestra > pitch of 1826? This is what I read at > http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-84975.html > "In 1939, an International Conference met in London and unanimously > adopted 440 Hz as the standard frequency for the pitch A4, and that > is the almost universal standard at present. Previously, the > standard was A=435 (fixed, Paris Academy, 1859, as diapason normal; > and confirmed, Vienna conference, 1885, as international pitch). > The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) > broadcasts a precise 440 Hz reference tone on its short wave radio > station WWV (Along with time data). In the 1800's there was also > Philharmonic Pitch, that of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It > varied from 1826, were A=433 Hz, and in 1845, was raised to A=455 > Hz. Historically it has ranged from A=403 Hz to 567 Hz. !!!" What > do you think. The fork is unfortunately not perfect, having been > effected by some rust, but I don't think this would explain the > 433HZ. I was not intending to use it, but it is an entertaining > looking (if no doubt useless) object. Regards Anthony > > -- > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html Tom Draughon Heartistry Music http://www.heartistry.com/artists/tom.html 714 9th Avenue West Ashland, WI 54806 715-682-9362
