Contrabass Digest

2001-11-27

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:52:00 -0800
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Subcontrabass Recorders - New Recording
 

>Interesting post, Francis. One question: what is the advantage to
>setting A at 466? If I heard a piece in the key of A played under
>such conditions, I would hear it as 'Bb' (I have 'perfect' pitch).
>At A=440 on the equally-tempered scale, the next highest note
>(Bb) is 466.16 Hz.
>
>Craig Durham

An artifact of the change in pitch standards over the centuries.  The
pitch for A has ranged from around 430 Hz to around 466 Hz.  The
latter is considered "high pitch" for Renaissance instruments, a
number of which are tuned to A460 or A466.  The recorder is
considered a non-transposing instrument: you play what's written in
concert pitch, adjusting your fingering if you switch from one size
recorder to another.  Most recorders are made in "C" (like the
soprano/descant, tenor, and great bass) or "F" (like the sopranino,
alto, and bass) (where C or F is the lowest note), although there are
also recorders in D, G, Bb, and other keys.  If you see 4th line D
(treble clef) in a soprano part, you finger it LT LH123 RH123:  in
the alto part, the same note is fingered LT LH12, and both notes are
the same pitch.

Grant

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