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Re: High pitch

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: High pitch
From: A Myers <am@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 96 8:54:50 GMT
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Nigel Wears wrote (5.3.96) quoting the book, "Brass Bands", edited by
Trevor Herbert:-

> On 191 it states that British services military bands changed to low
> pitch A=339Hz in 1929, and that the present standard, A440, was "AGREED
> INTERNATIONALLY IN 1939."

> A=339?, A=440 agreed internationally? The plot thickens!

The story of pitch standards is indeed rather convoluted - the `New
Philharmonic' pitch adopoted orchestrally in Britain around the turn of
the century was meant to be `Diapason Normal' A4 = 435 Hz, but because
of differences in ambient temperature it came out at A4 = 439 Hz (not
339 !).  Up to 1939 there was a perceptible difference between Britain
(at 439) and continental Europe (at 435).  The change to international
pitch standard of A4 = 440 Hz was of no perceptible significance in
Britain, and in continental Europe probably impinged more on woodwind
plyers than brass. 

It is has been a matter of debate whether the change from A4 = 452.5 Hz
to 440 affected the sound quality of brass bands.  Since bands changing
pitch also changed (or at least modified) their instruments, it was
difficult to isolate the pitch factor. 

Although probably not heard in contests, there are some brass bands
still using high pitch (unconverted) instruments. 

			 Arnold Myers	

Arnold Myers,
Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments,
Reid Concert Hall,  Bristo Square,  EDINBURGH  EH8 9AG,  Scotland
E-mail:  A.MYERS@xxxxxxxx
Web URL:  http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/


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