Why The Pitch Increase?

[raymac]

I am biased towards lower pith, it sounds stronger and more bagpipe like. I think it is in solo playing that you notice or discern the difference in timbre. Listen to this weeks Crunluath, there are two diffrent pitched solo players and to my ear the higher pitched instrument just is not the same quality of sound as the lower pitched.

raymac

[SouthCoastPiper]

My opinion is that the pitch increase in bands has improved the overall sound. More clinical, precise and sharper sounds. Perhaps that's the reason for increasing it over the years? It's better

When I compare older band recordings to current day ones, I can't help but feel the higher pitched recordings sound so much better. I would bet that people who do not bagpipe would find a much older recording to sound slightly 'warped' in comparison to a current tune recording.

My ears are nodding here.

[William McKenzie]

Originally Posted by SouthCoastPiper

My opinion is that the pitch increase in bands has improved the overall sound. More clinical, precise and sharper sounds. Perhaps that's the reason for increasing it over the years? It's better

When I compare older band recordings to current day ones, I can't help but feel the higher pitched recordings sound so much better. I would bet that people who do not bagpipe would find a much older recording to sound slightly 'warped' in comparison to a current tune recording.

My ears are nodding here.

I would agree with you, but again, for bands. For solo work I can't help but feel that a lower pitch is so much richer and more pleasing to listen to.

[pancelticpiper]

So... I went back and took tuner readings from some old World Pipe Band Championship CDs.

I was surprised at the results, because I thought that at any given year all the "big boys" would be more or less "on the same page" but that's not what I found.

Now, the caveats are 1) I don't know if the CDs correctly capture the pitch of the original live performances and 2) the weather might have played a part and 3) my method of getting readings was hardly scientific, but depended on my ear: I moved an electronically-generated tone up and down until it "rang" with the drones on the recording, then took an electronic tuner reading of the tone. They're probably accurate to within a couple cents.

In 1991 most bands were around 470 but a couple were around 477; the average was 473.

In 1995 one band was still around 470 but all the rest were between 474 and 477; the average was 474.

In 2000 a couple were up at 480 and 481 but a couple still around 475 with the others in between; the average being 477. (From Volume 2; I'll do Volume 1 when I get a chance, which I assume will have some higher-pitched bands.)

From this it seems that a big jump happened between 1995 and 2000... but what was the weather each of those years?

[R. Lawson]

It seems the pitch did climb late 90s driven, I suspect, by the successful Vic Police Ross reeds/bag setup, and that wonderful ear of Robert Crozier.

The Western Australia Police (WAPO) showed up in Scotland in 2004 with a very deep pitch. It seemed odd, but they explained in the dry heat of Perth with 40+ C temps, their same setup was actually at a very high pitch - and they didn't want to break the ceiling, wherever that might be. The drop in frequency at the Worlds' did not hurt them unduly. In the Qualifiers Andrew Wright had them 11th in Piping, compared to first from D McConnell. Not what one might expect from a classic piobaireachd player. In the Premier Finals McLellan, Worrall and McNulty placed them somewhat favourably despite the pitch. Quite tunefully set up. http://www.rspba.org/html/majorconte...0Championships

Listening to the 1997 Worlds' this week makes me think the weather was terrible that day with a sub-par sound from SFU/FMM etc. The buzz was that Vic should have won that day - and based on sound alone, most would agree. One must always be conscious that the weather and temps (!!) can change considerably between the first Band and the last on.

cheers - robin

[dhask]

Perth is in Western Australia. Victoria is a state in the South East and generally not a dry climate.

[pancelticpiper]

Originally Posted by R. Lawson

Listening to the 1997 Worlds' this week makes me think the weather was terrible that day with a sub-par sound

I listen to various old Worlds CDs all the time (1994 is a favourite) and most of the bands have a "sub par sound" compared with bands today.

On one of those old 90s CDs... I can't remember which... only one band has the sound which nowadays is expected in Grade One, FMM. Many of the bands have a tone more typcial of Grade Three today. Some of the bands have horrendous Ds in particular, and highlight the fact by ending their entire Medley on a held D.

[bob864]

Originally Posted by pancelticpiper

I listen to various old Worlds CDs all the time (1994 is a favourite) and most of the bands have a "sub par sound" compared with bands today.

On one of those old 90s CDs... I can't remember which... only one band has the sound which nowadays is expected in Grade One, FMM. Many of the bands have a tone more typcial of Grade Three today. Some of the bands have horrendous Ds in particular, and highlight the fact by ending their entire Medley on a held D.

It's amazing how many people believe that that no band could ever possibly sound better than XYZ in 199X. As if they were all sitting around not actively working on sounding better!

[Patrick McLaurin]

I believe the rise in pitch was due to North Americans trying to get their pipes, subconciously, in tune with the surrounding electrical equipment.