In shopping for an alto flute I was wondering why the Jupiter altos are pitched at A=442 instead of A=440. I emailed their contact and got this reply:
“it has been determined that the world standard of ‘’ PITCH’’ has
risen to the new standard of A=“442”. We manufacture to 440, 442,
445(especially for Europe). The USA continues to “TRY” tuning to 440, but it is really more like 442.”
Has anyone ever heard of this? Also, if your flute is pitched at A=442, can you play with other flutes or instruments pitched at A=440 with just embouchere adjustments?
that’s why you have a tuning slide.
still, a 2 mhz change shouldn’t be hard to compensate with lip down…just takes good control across the spectrum.
and of late, our session has been at 442, on it’s very own. Not sure how or why, but there it is.
and the international standard of 440 (it’s changing?) is a relatively new development…I believe finally voted/adopted by the international music community in 1939 (Ithink that’s the accurate year…in the 30s anyway)
Khal, more often than not, Boehm-type players are buying their flutes at A-442 these days. One handy thing about that pitch, is that you can always pull the headjoint out a bit to flatten the pitch, but if you’re playing with a group that tunes sharp, sometimes you can’t push in enough.
Another plus: pulling out the headjoint a bit can flatten the upper register, which is usually sharp on Boehm flutes (and altoflutes).
The A = 440 standard was established in 1840 by an international congress .The Mystery is why it went up thereafter .It is astounding that it is off again ,with all the fixed pitch instruments about , and recordings!
I think the Japanese started with these A=442 and A=445 flutes. This is actually very nice, because it gives you a little extra leeway when you have to play a cold flute (e.g. when you only have a few notes to play and your flute keeps getting cold before you get to your part). You’ll get used to having the head pulled out a couple mm when you’re playing a warmed up flute.
As i said, don’t worry. See this as one of those mythical amplifiers the rock’n’roll people keep joking about, where the volume knob goes up to eleven. It’s just a little leeway that’s there for you to use if you need it. It won’t harm anything. Most of the time, you’ll play with your (flute) head pulled out a couple of millimiters, that’s all.
you’re correct Andrew
but I was referring to when this side of the pond enlisted the 440 concept and everyone, both sides, were universally in tandem.
that, as I recall (and I could dig for it if need be) was c.1939
It all goes to show that we never learn from our mistakes .The whole cycle starts again .
Why ,People have been Invading Iraq , say , fot the last three thousand years ,and it never did any of them any good ! But do they learn ?History is a wonderful thing to read ,if we can remember as well .If there were more flute playing in Washington and ( a small part of )London there might be fewer invasions of the non-UN kind .
