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Re: "High pitch"

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: "High pitch"
From: Alastair Wheeler <alistair.wheeler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 11:40:39 +0000 (GMT)
In-reply-to: <9603012205.AA14129@fm3.facility.pipex.com>
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Another question, when did army bands change to low pitch? 


  Alastair Wheeler
  2nd euphonium, National Youth Wind Orchestra
  Converted trombonist
  newc0349@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx   http://sable.ox.ac.uk/~newc0349/


On Fri, 1 Mar 1996, Nigel Wears wrote:

> 
> 
> Here's another one to get the historians amongst us talking!
> 
> On April 1st 1964, the Salvation Army and Boosey and Hawkes both announced
> that they were to stop making instruments at A=452.5Hz (High pitch), and
> so, around 40 years after the rest of the musical establishment, bands
> started to go to A=440 pitch. What I would like to know is, who decided
> on A=440 in the first place? Was it a committee of some description? When did
> the first orchestras start playing in A=440? what were organs and pianos tuned
> to around the year 1920? Why were bands so slow to move to the new standard? I
> believe that Sir Dean  Goffin wrote to the British Bandsman, to point out the
> benefits of the  change over. Does anyone know what he said? I'm sure that
> everyone has got some stories about the change over. Who were the first bands
> to change? Who was the last?   As Arnold Myers pointed out to us, Brighouse
> were playing in high pitch well into the 1960s, and I believe there win at the
> Nationals in 1968 was with high pitch instruments.  What were people's
> opinions of the change? How did bands all around the world cope? It seems that
> American and Japanese manufacturers were producing instruments in A=440 before
> Booseys. Is that right? How did players get on playing solos with the piano?
> Did the slides have to come out a long way? 
> 
> Has anyone got a copy of any press release from Booseys or the S.A. regarding
> the cease of production of "H.P" instruments?
> 
> Let's have your views!
> 
> 
> Oh- by the way - What pitch are Lark instruments made in!!?   :-)
> 
> Nigel Wears
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
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References:
- "High pitch"
  - From: Nigel Wears

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