[NSP] Re: re piper's pitch v. concert pitch
Hello Peter and others. I agree absolutely with your suggestion and would advocate the use of standard pitches only, whether D, F, F# or G. The course of instrumental pitch is a complex and controversial one. Unfortunately, the history of woodwind and brasswind making is plagued by examples of instruments whose pitch differed from the prevailing one because individual makers or groups of makers thought it was a good idea at the time. These instruments are not representative of their period and are now curiosities. The difference between F and F +20 cents is sufficiently wide to sound musically unpleasant without providing any pleasing tonal advantage. Many people like the tone of chanters raised by the full semitone to F# and I am one of them. This is of course equivalent to the old G and is very close to the pitch of original chanters made by the Reids whose design forms the basis of all subsequent NSP making. This traditional pitch is heard to great effect in the wonderful playing of Adrian Schofield. I would be very surprised if NSP makers did not eventually move to the standard F that you suggest. Chanters in other standard pitches are perfectly acceptable and seem to provoke no controversy. Francis On 12 Nov 2008, at 20:17, P DUNN wrote: Regarding the question of pitch, it is all a matter of whether one is playing on one's own or playing with others. If playing solo, it doesn't really matter what the pitch is. The problem comes when trying to play with others. Then, it's just a nuisance that the pipes aren't in true F. Personally, I think that pipe makers should grasp the nettle and start to make pipes consistently in F, then they could be a true transposing instrument. Peter -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: re piper's pitch v. concert pitch
Francis (Wood) wrote: The course of instrumental pitch is a complex and controversial one. Indeed! For anyone seriously interested in this topic, there is now a fascinating book by Bruce Haynes: A History of Performing Pitch: The Story of A http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6657/is_/ai_n29072831 http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Performing-Pitch-Bruce-Haynes/dp/0810841851/ ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=1226584158sr=8-5 Cheers, Paul Gretton To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: re piper's pitch v. concert pitch
I risk being shot down for ignorance, but is it not the case that the GHB's were traditionally a shade away from Bb concert pitch, and have now come to roost on Bb as such for similar reasons? ( I just wish they wouldn't play them alongside brass bands, which tend to have a different temperament, but that's my problem!) Richard. Francis Wood wrote: Hello Peter and others. I agree absolutely with your suggestion and would advocate the use of standard pitches only, whether D, F, F# or G. The course of instrumental pitch is a complex and controversial one. Unfortunately, the history of woodwind and brasswind making is plagued by examples of instruments whose pitch differed from the prevailing one because individual makers or groups of makers thought it was a good idea at the time. These instruments are not representative of their period and are now curiosities. The difference between F and F +20 cents is sufficiently wide to sound musically unpleasant without providing any pleasing tonal advantage. Many people like the tone of chanters raised by the full semitone to F# and I am one of them. This is of course equivalent to the old G and is very close to the pitch of original chanters made by the Reids whose design forms the basis of all subsequent NSP making. This traditional pitch is heard to great effect in the wonderful playing of Adrian Schofield. I would be very surprised if NSP makers did not eventually move to the standard F that you suggest. Chanters in other standard pitches are perfectly acceptable and seem to provoke no controversy. Francis On 12 Nov 2008, at 20:17, P DUNN wrote: Regarding the question of pitch, it is all a matter of whether one is playing on one's own or playing with others. If playing solo, it doesn't really matter what the pitch is. The problem comes when trying to play with others. Then, it's just a nuisance that the pipes aren't in true F. Personally, I think that pipe makers should grasp the nettle and start to make pipes consistently in F, then they could be a true transposing instrument. Peter -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
