Pianotech

Hello List.
Here in my area (Belo Horizonte - Brazil) have now been a problem.
For some time now have appeared some pianos (Steinways D, C ??and B and some Yamaha CFII) whose last pitch was a pitch too high. I have found many 442 and 444 hz.
This is a problem because a few hours before some productions want to pitch in 440Hz.
The staff on the preference for classical music have 442Hz (but not to say they know why).
The jazz musicians prefer the 440Hz.
Here is a technician who finds himself in a more manly because tuning pitch top.
Here comes the explanation: "In the USA all professional pianos are tuned in 442 or 444 hz) - Is that true?

I refused to pitch today from a 2007 Steinway B (Hamburg) because he was a bad pitch by 444.5 Hz(center), but without Strech. Therefore, we would have to rise very treble to achieve a reasonable pitch.

What do you think? Does anyone know of any official guidance from the manufacturers? Steinwayrecommend a pitch?

Thanks for any response or indication of manufacturers.

Sincerely,
Motta
www.franciscomotta.com

-------------------------------------------
Francisco Motta
Atelier de Pianos Prof. Motta
Belo Horizonte
54 31 34255694
-------------------------------------------

Bom dia, senhor Motta,

A440 is the standard set by the International Standards Organization (ISO), but it has never been used by everybody. Most orchestras in Europe, and many in the USA, tune to 442. The Vienna Philharmonic tunes to 445.

Most home pianos in the USA are tuned to 440, unless a customer requests something different. It is only for concerts that this becomes an issue. It is a problem to change the pitch of a piano for a performance in a short period of time. We need to inform the managers of concert houses that if the pitch needs to be changed, it is much better if it is done one or two days in advance, and then re-tuned on the day of the performance.

I don't know of any official position by manufacturers at this point. Yamaha makes most of its percussion instruments at 442, because of international demand. I believe that if you want 440, you need to specify, otherwise they are 442. But I don't think they say anything about piano tuning. They leave that to the customer.

-------------------------------------------
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Einstein
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-28-2011 17:03
From: Francisco Motta
Subject: 440, 442 or 444 hz


Hello List.
Here in my area (Belo Horizonte - Brazil) have now been a problem.
For some time now have appeared some pianos (Steinways D, C ??and B and some Yamaha CFII) whose last pitch was a pitch too high. I have found many 442 and 444 hz.
This is a problem because a few hours before some productions want to pitch in 440Hz.
The staff on the preference for classical music have 442Hz (but not to say they know why).
The jazz musicians prefer the 440Hz.
Here is a technician who finds himself in a more manly because tuning pitch top.
Here comes the explanation: "In the USA all professional pianos are tuned in 442 or 444 hz) - Is that true?

I refused to pitch today from a 2007 Steinway B (Hamburg) because he was a bad pitch by 444.5 Hz(center), but without Strech. Therefore, we would have to rise very treble to achieve a reasonable pitch.

What do you think? Does anyone know of any official guidance from the manufacturers? Steinwayrecommend a pitch?

Thanks for any response or indication of manufacturers.

Sincerely,
Motta
www.franciscomotta.com

-------------------------------------------
Francisco Motta
Atelier de Pianos Prof. Motta
Belo Horizonte
54 31 34255694
-------------------------------------------

Mr. Fred Sturm.
Thank you for your response.
Musically, I see no importance in the pitch. Everything seems to be dealing with something similar to apeak acoustic instrument of the orchestra may have a certain pitch. I think this is very indefinite. Basically, I think the issue is really cultural. However there could be a way to really standardize this.
I thought that if the scale of the strings is designed to 440Hz, so it could be a justification. Another would be to say that in the stringing 440Hz is already very tense and that Steinway has a scale where the strings are very close to the break. So to conserve the piano, would be the best pitch 440Hz.
As I said, no musical difference between 440 and 444hz. I think this is all a frisson of the musician.
Now look at my situation:
I below to 440Hz - I'm wrong.
Go up to 442Hz - I'm wrong too.
And who complains, has no ear to distinguish the sound of a cow from a bird.
Maybe some will come some manufacturer document saying: The height of the piano sound is in 4xx hz.
I'd be happy.
I work at a major University of Music of Brazil (40 pianos)
The piano technology department is me and my suitcase.
Pray for me.
Very Grateful.
Motta

-------------------------------------------
Francisco Motta
Atelier de Pianos Prof. Motta
Belo Horizonte
54 31 34255694
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-28-2011 20:53
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: 440, 442 or 444 hz

Bom dia, senhor Motta,

A440 is the standard set by the International Standards Organization (ISO), but it has never been used by everybody. Most orchestras in Europe, and many in the USA, tune to 442. The Vienna Philharmonic tunes to 445.

Most home pianos in the USA are tuned to 440, unless a customer requests something different. It is only for concerts that this becomes an issue. It is a problem to change the pitch of a piano for a performance in a short period of time. We need to inform the managers of concert houses that if the pitch needs to be changed, it is much better if it is done one or two days in advance, and then re-tuned on the day of the performance.

I don't know of any official position by manufacturers at this point. Yamaha makes most of its percussion instruments at 442, because of international demand. I believe that if you want 440, you need to specify, otherwise they are 442. But I don't think they say anything about piano tuning. They leave that to the customer.

-------------------------------------------
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Einstein
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-28-2011 17:03
From: Francisco Motta
Subject: 440, 442 or 444 hz


Hello List.
Here in my area (Belo Horizonte - Brazil) have now been a problem.
For some time now have appeared some pianos (Steinways D, C ??and B and some Yamaha CFII) whose last pitch was a pitch too high. I have found many 442 and 444 hz.
This is a problem because a few hours before some productions want to pitch in 440Hz.
The staff on the preference for classical music have 442Hz (but not to say they know why).
The jazz musicians prefer the 440Hz.
Here is a technician who finds himself in a more manly because tuning pitch top.
Here comes the explanation: "In the USA all professional pianos are tuned in 442 or 444 hz) - Is that true?

I refused to pitch today from a 2007 Steinway B (Hamburg) because he was a bad pitch by 444.5 Hz(center), but without Strech. Therefore, we would have to rise very treble to achieve a reasonable pitch.

What do you think? Does anyone know of any official guidance from the manufacturers? Steinwayrecommend a pitch?

Thanks for any response or indication of manufacturers.

Sincerely,
Motta
www.franciscomotta.com

-------------------------------------------
Francisco Motta
Atelier de Pianos Prof. Motta
Belo Horizonte
54 31 34255694
-------------------------------------------