440hz Conspiracy

[Osage]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Ok, apart from the "conspiracy" silliness, I have heard that some symphony orchestras tune to slightly higher - (442/443 mentioned).

They must do this for a reason ... anybody know what it is?

A very close friend is a concert flutist who plays both in the US and Europe. He told me that the 442/443 is to make the music a bit brighter and many believe it has a slightly more "modern" sound, whatever that means. He's also a historian of the instrument and has examples dating back hundreds of years built to be played in all different pitches. He says it can be a bit of a shame because some of the best sounding flutes ever built can't be played in a modern orchestra setting.

[phcorrigan]

In ancient times, prior to the advent of small electronic tuners (i.e., the sixties), the standard guitar tuning device was a 440 Hz tuning fork. I still have mine.

[Dreadfulnaught]

Originally Posted by cmac

Of course not. He never died!

Well, not at the time. But later when his daughter married Michael Jackson, that’s what killed him.

[Willie_D]

I blame the Illuminati what with their mind control, new world order, clones, shape-shifting lizard people, and A=440.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by Osage

No, it wasn't. That's just silly internet conspiracy talk. Concert pitch has slowly moved up to 440 over the centuries and in fact, many orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic currently play at 442. Many in Europe are playing at 443.
.

I was unaware of the NYP's deviation from 440, I have a former student who has been there for several years and a former conductor of mine went moved there as associate conductor years ago, but I've not been in contact with either for some time. I'm surprised, There are times that I find even 440 a bit strident.

[DetroitDave]

Originally Posted by Dreadfulnaught

Well, not at the time. But later when his daughter married Michael Jackson, that’s what killed him.

Word on the street is that Elvis still hangs out at the Burger King in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Apparently, none of the college students have a clue who he is, so he can just keep battling the Whopper on his own terms.
Finally, we had heard he still sneaks into the old Gibson factory on occasion to check on whether they ever finished his custom J200.
As for A440, Elvis left that for the Colonel to decide.

[The Growler]

Originally Posted by DetroitDave

Word on the street is that Elvis still hangs out at the Burger King in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Apparently, none of the college students have a clue who he is, so he can just keep battling the Whopper on his own terms.
Finally, we had heard he still sneaks into the old Gibson factory on occasion to check on whether they ever finished his custom J200.
As for A440, Elvis left that for the Colonel to decide.

Me thinks that any decision left to the Col. would be an expensive decision.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

If you tune to A440 you'll get cancer.

It's a guitar not a windmill.

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by stephenT

https://www.violinist.com/discussion/archive/11273/

Wow, that’s an amazing thread from some knowledgeable folks! I never knew! But it does show there are as many differing opinions amongst concert orchestra performers as we see on the AGF, with apparently no absolute correct conclusion, LOL......thanks.

[Mooh]

All my friends, band mates, and students, use A440. The piano and pipe organ at my church are tuned to A440 (I've checked). Every recording I've been involved with and every gig I've played...A440.

Number of complaints or expressions of dissatisfaction...zero.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

In ancient times, prior to the advent of small electronic tuners (i.e., the sixties), the standard guitar tuning device was a 440 Hz tuning fork. I still have mine.

Me too; bought mine around 1968 and still use it.