The original question I posed was more a rhetorical one. The point being
that, until the invention of the tuning fork, there was no "set" or
"standard" pitch as such. Only the sound of other instruments - hence the
plethora of tuning methods to ensure everyone played the same (or as near as
possible).
Obviously better to tune to an instrument either to a well known one (such
as the town organ) or one that couldn't be altered (as in the principal of a
tuning fork as it comes from the maker and before anyone files a bit off
because it's sharp etc).
We are lucky now because we have the technology to set, say, A=440 and make
comparisons for tuning, our forbears were not so lucky.
The reason they traditionally/originally tune to the oboe A, of course.
I wonder how many orchestras tuned to an Oboe that was several cents out?
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Gretton" <[email protected]>
To: "'Colin'" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 7:20 AM
Subject: [NSP] Re: Tuning/pitch
In a large number of cities, the tuning standard was taken from the organ
(specifically the flue pipes) in the church, the cathedral, or the local
ruler's chapel. That pitch in turn tended to be determined by the
particular
organ-builder - say Silbermann - who "transported" his preferred pitch
from
one commission to another.
Until well into the 19th century, there was an incredible mish-mash of
different pitches from one town/city to the other. (And even within a
particular city too - Bach complained of the varying pitches of the organs
in Leipzig.) This was not a terrible problem for string players but it
certainly was for wind players. Brass players, for example, had to travel
equipped with a whole series of "bits" for fine tuning because until the
19th century brass instruments didn't have tuning slides. Flutes had to
have
"corps de rechange" - alternative middle sections of slightly differing
lengths and hole placements for tuning to different pitch standards.
So in fact the variety of pitches for the NSP is extremely traditional!
Two
hundred years ago it wouldn't have been thought in any way remarkable.
Cheers,
Paul Gretton
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf
Of Colin
Sent: 09 February 2011 01:37
To: [email protected]
Subject: [NSP] Re: Tuning/pitch
Which were tuned with reference to..................
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 9:27 PM
Subject: [NSP] Re: Tuning/pitch
Before the tuning fork was invented, there were pitch pipes.
John
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