Do you think that the probability of a BBb tuba player playing the sub-octave C is tune is any better than the possibility of someone playing the the concert G2 in tune--where the player can actually hear the interval clearly?iiipopes wrote:Yes, indeed. They are called difference tones or "Tartini's" tones, from the guy who first described them. But if you're not exactly on pitch and can hold it steady, like a pipe organ does to synthesize a 32' stop when there is insufficient space or height for true 32' pipes, that difference tone can wobble badly, and detract from the solidity of the group rather than reinforce it. Another technical word for the effect is called heterodyning.
Now, why something that has probably been known since the time of Pythagoras should be named after an 18th century violinist, of all people is a mystery to me. Probably because the wire choir members get a shot at concertmaster and write all of the books.
My well-thumbed copy of Helmholtz that I've probably had for the last 35 years has a lot of interesting observations, such as the following;
http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/jul2001 ... 61976.html
I'm not convinced that I believe him, however.
