Re: A = 440 Hz OR 432 Hz?

[andy butler <akbutler@tiscali.co.uk>]

Ben Edwards wrote:
> But if instruments were resonant with 432 wouldn't the harmonics "sound 
> nicer" and vice versa?  

Which is to say that every instrument has it's sweet spot tuning wise.
Probably worth considering that the resonant peaks in a good instrument
are relatively broad.


> I think the real issue here is a 
> monopoly of 440Hz=A on recorded music not necessarily sacred, 
> improvised, world, electronic, composed, ... , music in a quantum 
> historical context.  

there's a lot of non 440 about, often unnoticed.


> That can be argued aesthetically and geometrically 
> philosophic in any parallel Shrodinger's Cat dimension 

well, no-ones going to argue with that ; -)


I agree with Per that relative pitch (temperament) is more significant 
than absolute pitch.
The text books are full of how equal temperament is dominant, when the
reality is that it's only keyboards (and some guitars ) are generally
now tuned in 12ET. Exceptions: string quartet; choral music; orchestra;
anything outside Europe...etc.

andy