High Low Pitch

[JohnSzkutko]

The Miraphone 1291 5v Bb tuba I have, has had it's tuning slide lengthened to make it tune to A440.

I thought this was an odd thing to do, sell a tuba that is sharp in pitch, especially since it's a relatively newer model tuba.

Cut to the chase...

I checked the Miraphone website today (now) to see if Siegfried is alive and he is. I noticed in the specs (no pic) that it was offered at 443hz pitch. It actually stated this.

I then checked the 1291 specs, they are offered in 2 pitches, 440hz and 443 hz. Even the New yorker C tuba is offered in 2 pitches.

I do know that back in the good old days, high pitched instruments were the norm, with many of them in use today having been converted to lower pitch.

Siegfried is the latest tuba (that I know of) in production and (so far) is only offered in high pitch.

I'm wondering is there a part of this earth, or a culture or ensemble that requires modern day instruments.... tubas at a higher pitch?

[Roger Lewis]

In Europe the standard pitch can be as high as A=445 or possibly even higher, depending on the country and the music director. In America many of the orchestras tune to A=442 as their standard. Often with imported instruments it is specified that the pitch is to A=440 so that the instruments can be played with a piano tuned to A=440.

Some of the earlier 1291 BBb and 191 BBb Miraphones came with the shorter European slides. Miraphone made up longer slides for these instruments and sent them out to their dealers. If someone has one of these instruments with the slide almost all the way out, let me know as I have a few of these slides on hand.

You can tell the difference easily. If the ferrules on your slide are about 3/4" long, then it is likely a European slide. The ones for the American models should be about 1 1/2" long.

All the best to you.

Roger

[PMeuph]

Listen to the following video.
Stylistic difference aside, you will notice that the pitch varies a lot. (Especially in the older recordings, where possiblel technological problems might have caused that, and with the groups that play period instrument.)

[windshieldbug]

bloke "who perceives that it's often best for the tuba to play very slightly low (as with piano tuning) when tuning to 'full orchestra' chords and playing pitches below the staff - particularly when the bass trombonist also compromises slightly"

+3