[Dixielandjazz] Correct Pitch frequency? (was: correct pitch, Ory, Savoy Blues)

[Bert Brandsma]

Hello Allan,
 
Having two barrels usually is for that reason, indeed. 
Another reason could be a difference in timbre.
Now there also exist tuning barrels, you can change the lenght of them. Compare with the microtuner neck of early conn saxophones.
The big advantage of these clarinet barrels is that you don't get big holes in the inside of your clarinet.
If you play in an ensemble that tunes really low, you have to pull out the barrel a lot, with normal barrels you get a big gap that disturbs the pattern of the total tube of the horn.
 
Kind regards,
 
Bert Brandsma
 


Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Correct Pitch frequency? (was: correct pitch, Ory, Savoy Blues)
From: allanbrown at dsl.pipex.com
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 23:38:57 +0000
CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
To: mister_bertje at hotmail.com



Thanks Bert,


I've noticed, whilst browsing the web, that some top end clarinets come with two barrels of different size. Is that to overcome the tuning problem between countries that you mention?


Personally, I doubt I would even notice the difference between 440, 442 or 443. (Or 480 for that matter!)


All the best,


Allan




On 5 Feb 2011, at 22:59, Bert Brandsma wrote:

The story about pitch in Europe is as following.
The official standard is A = 440, in France it normaly is.
However in a country like Germany it's usually slightly higher, around 442 or 443.
 
I happen to have a French Clarinet and am working in the Cologne Opera House this month Februari. (in itself unique enough, since the German musicians union is strongly against French clarinets, it's only possible since I'm hired on alt sax, with double on clarinet).
It is quite difficult to reach the pitch with German symphonic orchestras on that French clarinet, I should have a shorter barrel for that.
 
There is a grand piano in the opera house tuned to 443, but the Oboe sometimes pitches the orchestra even slighty higher.
 
Of course there are other influenes, like temperature. If you have outside gigs in winter with horns, you have to play on a lower pitch then 440, since you don't get there when it's freezing.
 
Might also be one of the reasons of the higher pitch in the Opera house, it's extremely hot down in the pit, even now in winter.
 
Kind regards,
 
Bert Brandsma

 
> From: allanbrown at dsl.pipex.com
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 14:56:22 +0000
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Correct Pitch frequency? (was: correct pitch, Ory, Savoy Blues)
> CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> To: mister_bertje at hotmail.com
> 
> This is a question I've pondering of late too. Whilst looking to buy a secondhand clarinet I was made aware that there is a difference between the tuning of American and European clarinets, although even then not all European countries adhere to the same standard. I can't remember the details though.
> 
> I was chatting to a piano tuner recently and he mentioned that generally the 'standard' pitch has risen since the 19th Century. 
> 
> There is an interesting summary on Wikipedia.
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pitch_standards_in_Western_music
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Allan Brown
> 
> 
> On 5 Feb 2011, at 14:30, Bob Smith wrote:
> 
> > While we're on this question of correct pitch, does anyone know the frequency of concert A in the 1920's. It's not all that long ago that it went up from 440 Hz to 442 Hz. The first trombone (2nd hand) that i bought in 1947 was tuned to concert pitch B, and to use it in our jazz band I had to pull the tuning slide out until it was about to drop off! This of course meant I couldn't position the slide to the seventh position, so that low B and low E had to be faked with the lips.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > 
> > Bob Smith
> > 
> > 
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