Posted by Mark in Ohio on December 03, 2000 at 18:32:14:
In Reply to: Orchestra opinions... posted by SirC on December 03, 2000 at 14:49:04:
It also depends on what the Harmonic Function of the note you are playing at any given at any moment is. Playing forever w/ a tuner in the practice room or otherwise means nothing unless you are always playing the root of every chord (which you aren't) and always in Equal Temperment (which no orchestra, band, etc. does)!
For example, the fifth of a chord would need to be sharper than a "tuner" would indicate (2 cents) in order to be perfectly in tune with whoever has the root. If you are playing the F in a Bb chord, don't expect the world to tune to you-- The entire chord would have to be flat If tuned to your tuner-perfect F! the D in the same Bb chord needs to be 14 cents flat in order to be in-tune!
These adjustments reflect the natural laws of acoustics. That's why the in-staff D on a BBb (or E on a CC) tuba is usually "flat". Play it as is in a Bb (or C) chord, however, and it usually works!
A good article on this by Wayne Gorder (Kent State U) appeared in the March/April 1991 Band Directors Guide. I'm sure a web search would reveal many others.
In short, tuning in an ensemble context has little to do with being "right" with a tuner. Unless of course the oboist tuned to A 448. Different problem!
Hope this helps
Sincerely,
Mark "keep them slides greased" Mazak