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The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

jakubmarian.com

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Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#41

Post by stordoff »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #5

As a Frenchman, I chuckled at "In Britain, however, the French standard was interpreted in an erroneous way, due to which British orchestras commonly tuned to A = 439 Hz." NOTE: I hope the word chuckle isn't interpreted as condescending, I only meant that this story is almost a perfect parable for our relationship with Great Britain throughout history, one of mutual defiance and refusal to acknowledge the other party…

It's always felt to me (a Brit) like a sort of sibling relationship. We can poke fun at each other all day long, but we'll defend each other from anyone else trying to do the same.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#43

Post by haberman »

> orchestras specializing in older music may sometimes tune in the tuning close to the one for which the piece was originally written, which may range from 415 Hz to 470 Hz).

I can say as someone who performs a lot of Baroque music (c. 1600 - 1750) that there is a relatively common standard of A=415 for music of this period. A=415 is often referred to as "Baroque pitch."

This mainly applies to ensembles that specialize in Baroque music, and use historical instruments. If you see your local symphony orchestra play Bach on modern instruments, they will probably play at A=440.

I have never performed at a pitch higher than 440. I'm sure it happens sometimes, but I think it's more of a niche thing.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#44

Post by tjalex »

codingdave wrote: post #36
misingnoglic wrote: post #18

Just wait until the conspiracy nuts learn about the tunings that affect the distance between notes, not just the shift! (I'm surprised my double music major is useful somewhere).

Just curious - what exactly is a double music major? (I always have heard of double majors as being separate subjects.)

I think they mean that chose to major in , with music as a second (additional) major.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#45

Post by ralmeida »

codingdave wrote: post #36
misingnoglic wrote: post #18

Just wait until the conspiracy nuts learn about the tunings that affect the distance between notes, not just the shift! (I'm surprised my double music major is useful somewhere).

Just curious - what exactly is a double music major? (I always have heard of double majors as being separate subjects.)

I can only presume, but I believe they meant they graduated with a 'main' major (possibly something technical, like engineering or CS, since we're in HN), but also double majored (i.e. also majored) in music.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#46

Post by dmix »

Decided to try searching this and found this lovely site:

> A=432 Hz, known as Verdi’s ‘A’ is an alternative tuning that is mathematically consistent with the universe. Music based on 432Hz transmits beneficial healing energy, because it is a pure tone of math fundamental to nature https://attunedvibrations.com/432hz/

Oh new age pseudo science. My mom loves this stuff and I never fully understood why. My sister gets angry at me when I point things out or level any criticism because "it makes her happy". This apathy to the issue from people who should know better is likely why nonsense like this keeps spreading in an age of Snopes and Google.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#48

Post by Normal_gaussian »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #5

As a Frenchman, I chuckled at "In Britain, however, the French standard was interpreted in an erroneous way, due to which British orchestras commonly tuned to A = 439 Hz." NOTE: I hope the word chuckle isn't interpreted as condescending, I only meant that this story is almost a perfect parable for our relationship with Great Britain throughout history, one of mutual defiance and refusal to acknowledge the other party…

As a Brit, my reaction to a Frenchman is one of disgust as I reach for my insults. Yet there are few countries I would turn to so quickly in the search for a sane and good friend.

Perhaps it is easiest to say:

Where the USA has Russia, we have France. Where the USA has Canada, we have France.

Re: The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory

#49

Post by zefhous »

On the subject, here's an interesting song that starts out at A432hz and makes its way up to A440hz by the end.

Hideaway – Jacob Collier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3zyPEy-Po

I did not explicitly notice this the first time hearing it, but I certainly felt it. When I discovered the change it made sense to me. The mood is lifted over the course of the song as the tuning is also lifted.

There are so many elements of music that are routinely varied within a song — dynamics, texture, timbre, rhythm, key, and tempo (though less frequently during this age of the click track). I don't think I'd noticed tuning used prior to this.

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