Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 3 valve vs. 4 valve for beginner?


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Posted by AW on May 13, 2003 at 21:42:45:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 3 valve vs. 4 valve for beginner? posted by Rick Denney on May 13, 2003 at 16:01:14:

I'm with Rick on this one. Dr. Young mentions a tuning error of only 2 cents for one type of tuba, then errors of 15 to 25 cents for another type. If tuba pitch and intonation could be calculated from theoretical lengths of valve slides, all tubas of a particular valve configuration would have the same intonation, and we would not need to discuss some tubas having better or worse intonation. Anyone who has played more than one tuba knows that this is not true!

Further, as Rick states, intonation is not defined in accordance with a single set of frequencies corresponding to one scale in one particular temperament. Therefore, it is not possible to make accurate absolute numerical (e.g. "2 cents") statements about a tuba's pitch accuracy in realistic playing situations. These theoretical calculations have academic interest of course, but they do not help someone choose a tuba. Indeed, throwing around numbers of cents pitch errors based on a simplistic theory in the context of practical advice is essentially deceptive.

Regarding the comments on piano tuning: The stretching of the octaves in pianos (flat at the low end, sharp at the high end) is to compensate for the fact that the overtones of piano strings are sharp relative to the fundamental. [This is especially true when the piano is played loudly.] When this stretching is done skilfully, the piano sounds more in tune with itself. As most orchestral musicians know, the pitch of any keyboard instrument (piano, organ, harpsichord) played with an ensemble is problematic; the piano is merely the worst. Of course, to make things more complicated, we could start talking about how pitch perception differs from frequency measurement, and how even skilled musicians may prefer octaves that are stretched. Perhaps some other time.

Allen Walker
pipes2000ATtheatreorgans.com



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