Reference Pitches

Two things:

1. Why did Partch choose G (392Hz)as his 1/1?
2. Why do we not choose concert A 440Hz as the standard, as it has been for
some time (deviations upwards by some ensembles notwithstanding)?

I'd prefer an A reference, as at least this should be available on most
concert instruments. My only gripe would be that C major is considered the
tonal neutral of 12ET, but C is not a reference pitch.

Mark

>I hope that in the future we can prevent such things from
>happening. imagine all type of diamonds built to different reference to
>tones of 12
>ET. it makes me shutter.

Two things:

1. Why did Partch choose G (392Hz)as his 1/1?
2. Why do we not choose concert A 440Hz as the standard, as it has been for
some time (deviations upwards by some ensembles notwithstanding)?

I'd prefer an A reference, as at least this should be available on most
concert instruments. My only gripe would be that C major is considered the
tonal neutral of 12ET, but C is not a reference pitch.

Mark

>I hope that in the future we can prevent such things from
>happening. imagine all type of diamonds built to different reference to
>tones of 12
>ET. it makes me shutter.

Two things:

1. Why did Partch choose G (392Hz)as his 1/1?
2. Why do we not choose concert A 440Hz as the standard, as it has been for
some time (deviations upwards by some ensembles notwithstanding)?

I'd prefer an A reference, as at least this should be available on most
concert instruments. My only gripe would be that C major is considered the
tonal neutral of 12ET, but C is not a reference pitch.

Mark

>I hope that in the future we can prevent such things from
>happening. imagine all type of diamonds built to different reference to
>tones of 12
>ET. it makes me shutter.

--- In tuning@y..., "Mark Gould" <mark.gould@a...> wrote:
> Two things:
>
> 1. Why did Partch choose G (392Hz)as his 1/1?

For as simple a reason as the following: G, in the bass clef, was the lowest tone that Partch could sing (intone) and still have full voice. It was his lowest 'good pitch', and worked well with his original stringed instruments.

Not very scientific, maybe, but that's where it came from.

Cheers,
Jon