On a daily basis, OCSM Delegates share information about practices, standards, and issues affecting their orchestras. We are starting a monthly feature, “Ask an OCSM Delegate”, highlighting some of the intel they gather.
Question: Can you let me know what tuning pitch your orchestra takes (440, 441, et cetera)?
- Alex Conway, Winnipeg Symphony
442
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Orchestre Métropolitain
441
National Ballet Orchestra
Windsor Symphony
440
Calgary Phil
Edmonton Symphony
Hamilton Phil
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Niagara Symphony
Regina Symphony
Saskatoon Symphony
Symphony Nova Scotia
Thunder Bay Symphony
Vancouver Symphony
“It’s complicated”
NACO: “440-441, though it’s not stipulated in the contract.”
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec: “Currently 440, but changing to 442 is being discussed.”
TSO: The contract says “440 – but in any event not higher than 442.”
Victoria: “There is nothing in the Victoria Symphony agreement that specifies what pitch standard we tune to. I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest I've been tuning to A=440 for the past 35 years.” – OCSM President Bob Fraser
No response: Canadian Opera Orchestra, London Symphonia