So true.  I recall years ago, playing a mandolino in the double 
Vovaldi concerto, with a modern chamber orchestra.  The concertmaster 
gave a true a=440 to tune all the string players, but most of the 
string players tuned sharper than that, and they were around 443.  I 
recall in rehearsals stopping, and inquiring why they did that.  They 
responded that many of the individual violinists tuned sharp, "so I 
can hear myself", and they found that it was easier for them to play that way.

I stopped to have them re-tune to a = 440.  I found this 
frustrating.  I ended tuning my mandolino sharper to match their 
pitch, and the violinists in turn tuned sharper yet.  We just could 
not agree.  There was a small portative organ playing continuo, and 
it was flat to the group.

ed



At 04:39 PM 1/6/2012, [email protected] wrote:
>  Even today some orchestras tune to 442 -444, to take advantage of 
> this effect.



Edward Martin
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