Nice article on the why of A440

[Worth]

http://www.wqxr.org/story/why-do-we-tune-a-note-pitch/" target="_blank

[windshieldbug]

It's all about who cuts through the ensemble the most.
I can't think of any professional first tier ensemble that plays at 440.
Even pitched percussion such as marimbas are built tuned high to "project"...

[Donn]

Everyone has to tune up a little, because the accordion is almost always at least A=442hz.

[Uncle Markie]

Pitch in NYC was always a little higher - especially on the jingles - because it sounded "brighter" - or to people like me "sharp".

I seem to remember some mythology about A=440 somehow being tied to the Treaty of Versailles. Seriously, a lot of the old engagement contracts for the dance bands required a piano tuned to A=440 "International Pitch".

Just throwing that in there.

[pjv]

It does create a bit of a mess when purchasing a tuba, I'd think.

If a well made tuba was (for example) designed with 442 intonation in mind, will it be just as amazing in 440 with slides pulled and/or possibly an extra ts?
The other way around (a tuba in 440 raised to 442)?
This of coarse has often been an issue with old "low & high tuning" tubas

Makes me wonder if some tubas are more popular in a country who's climate better matches that of the country it was built in (excluding the "fad" factor, if that is even possible).

[windshieldbug]

If a well made tuba was (for example) designed with 442 intonation in mind, will it be just as amazing in 440 with slides pulled and/or possibly an extra ts?
The other way around (a tuba in 440 raised to 442)?
This of coarse has often been an issue with old "low & high tuning" tubas

If you haven't been able to identify which ensemble is playing at what pitch so far, a few hz among friends is not worth considering...

[edsel585960]

What's all this tuning nonsense anyway?

[flamingo19518]

http://www.wqxr.org/story/why-do-we-tune-a-note-pitch/" target="_blank

As a piano tuner, the pitch gets ever slightly higher by the octaves. A440 is concert C (if my memory doesn't fail me.) It gives a piano a brighter sound. I imagine that this holds true for orchestras.

[swillafew]

There is the engineer's description of pitch and the musician's. Today a guy who builds tuned percussion told me he was irritated that temperature changes mess up his calibration. Who'd a thunk it?

[Billy M.]

WTF is tuning?

[Worth]

If a well made tuba was (for example) designed with 442 intonation in mind, will it be just as amazing in 440 with slides pulled

It is a characteristic of currently made European and or Russian Tubas (and their clones) to be pitched higher? Seems the main slide pull on my W900 is out about a full three fingers.

[GC]

Where you tend to play on a slot will affect your slide pull.