CAUT

  • 1.  pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2023 12:04

    I was called by the University where I worked to tune their harpsichord for a recital and was told that the instrument is about 1/2 step low.  I am going to give it two tunings; one to bring it up to pitch and a second one (or more) to prepare it for the recital.  Is there anything I need to watch out for in bringing the instrument up to pitch.  I have tuned it many times but I always kept it close to pitch and never let it get this flat.  Thanks!

    Joy!

    Elwood



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    Elwood Doss RPT
    Martin TN
    (731) 479-4043
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  • 2.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2023 12:25

    I would aim for the 3 tunings.  They're not very stable.

    Paul

     






  • 3.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2023 12:54
    Half step seasonal pitch changes are common on harpsichords (some exceed a half step). Finding it unusually far off pitch probably means you haven't happened to tune it during an environmental extreme. (A Zuckermann 5' at UNM would cycle over 200 cents in some parts of the scale, sharp end of summer, flat mid winter).

    In general, there is far less need of overpull to achieve stability quickly. Maybe 5 cents over will leave it closer to target pitch. 

    Since you say you are prepping, I'd give it a quick tuning to pitch, do the prep, then fine tune. It's always possible a string might break, so allow time for that.

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    fssturm@comcast
    "The cure for boredom is curiosity, and there is no cure for curiosity." Dorothy Parker






  • 4.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2023 13:10
    Fred is right, as usual. I used to move harpsichords between multiple venues, sometimes outdoors and once to a botanical garden orchid green house where it went 150¢ sharp. The pitch swings can be crazy. I would just pull to pitch quickly and then retune more carefully. The only issue might be a broken string.


    ---Dave

    Sent from my phone, forgive typos!


    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Posted 09-04-2023 15:42

    Elwood- You need to learn all you can about the HVAC, and monitor humidity (not to mention spotlights). In Charlotte the Blumenthal auditorium, home to the Charlotte Symphony, could change relative humidity very quickly as the HVAC was on or off between rehearsals and performances, and the fine Kingston harpsichord was always moving up or down in pitch. Tunings were arranged for 90 minutes before curtain.

    By the way, if the instrument has a transposing keyboard, raising pitch 100 cents may just involve pulling the cheek block and shifting the action to the right.



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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
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  • 6.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Posted 09-04-2023 19:36
    Hi-  it seems a little odd being so flat this time year but major pitch adjustment is not common when it has sat for a while.  I recently visited one that was 125c sharp. Once you get to know the instrument these big pitch changes on a harpsichord are relatively quick.  Always double check the keyboard position first, as Ed brought up.  Too many times I've seen harpsichords in the low position pulled up to 440, which is very bad for the case.  

    Best,
    Dennis Johnson




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2023 09:21

    Elwood,

    For what it's worth, first check to see IF the keyboard is a transposing one.
    Could save a lot of things not the least, breakage of strings and time.
    If not, certainly plan on multiple passes and playthroughs.  Charge accordingly.

    Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.
    Gerry



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    Gerry
    Gerald P. Cousins, RPT ~ Director of Piano Service and Resources
    West Chester University of PA
    gcousins@wcupa.edu
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  • 8.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2023 14:04
    Strange that it is flat this time of year. Are you sure this is not a transposer and is sharp, but in the 415 position?

    Rick Florence
    Sent from my iPhone





  • 9.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2023 17:02
    I was told by one of the professors that the harpsichord was flat.  Actually, it was around 45 cents sharp with the 4-foot strings 100+ cents sharp.  I plan to go over it tomorrow and again on Friday.  Thanks for all the advice.  It's been a decade since I tuned it and I don't think it's been tuned much since.
    Joy!
    Elwood




    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: pitch raise on a harpsichord

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-06-2023 08:00

    As was mentioned,

    make sure the instrument does not have a transposer - moveable cheek blocks - or something similar. Ask me how I know...



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    John Leggett RPT
    MM, RPT
    Lynchburg VA
    (209) 560-6403
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    Original Message