[Dixielandjazz] Equal temperament and perfect pitch

[Gary Kiser]

I know several perfect pitchers (no, they don't play for the Dodgers). 
Some could adjust and enjoy, other freaked and had to leave the room.  I 
had a girl friend flute player at UCLA that couldn't listen to 
recordings (vinyl at the time) if the orchestra wasn't at A440.  
However, she had a high end turntable with a strobe speed control and 
she would adjust the turntable speed for the records (only a few) that 
gave her a headache.

She has since married a French guy and is living over here as a software 
engineer now.  I need to ask her if she has a problem with European 
orchestras as most tune to A442.

All the best, Gary


Ken Gates wrote:
> To those of you who have the gift of perfect pitch----
>
> What if-----a piano was tuned using an electronic tuner (equal temperament) 
> and it happened to be off by 1/4 a tone.  Band members---all with good ears--
> adjusted their axes to the piano.  You walk into the room while they're playing.
>
> Would you recognize that they are 1/4 tone off?  Would the fact that they are
> playing in tune with each other make it "all right" with your ear?  Or would the
> deviation from the natural harmonics----(which would be much greater than the 
> normal deviation of equal tempered tuning)---cause an unpleasant sound to your ear?
>
> Ken Gates (less than perfect pitch)