4 ms·
Anti-clickbait description: the international pitch to which orchestras should tune was actually specified in the Treaty of Versailles, of all places, as 435Hz.
by camtarn 8y ago
Anti-clickbait description: the international pitch to which orchestras should tune was actually specified in the Treaty of Versailles, of all places, as 435Hz. Orchestras can gain a slight 'brightness' advantage over others by playing very slightly sharp, so one London orchestra used a rather interesting interpretation of the rules to allow it to stretch the pitch upwards by a few Hz, thus technically breaking international law. But the rest of the story is also worth watching.
- benj111 8y agoThe treaty of Versailles? How did that come about? British: Your troops are retreating, your civilians are starving, surrender now. Germany: Ok France: And you will tune your instruments to 435hz Germany: Noooooooo.... Edit: Still havent got a reason, this adds more detail but says 440hz? http://capionlarsen.com/history-pitch/ http://capionlarsen.com/history-pitch/
- moehm 8y agoThe treaty of Versailles specifies a lot more than this. See e.g. here[0] for article 274 and 275, which basically say, that Champagne and Cognac is only produced in France. [0] https://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/versa/versa9.html https://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/versa/versa9.html
- benj111 8y agoInteresting. That whole section reads as a (one way?) free trade agreement. I know the treaty was intended to punish Germany, and that would fit. Frequency standardisation, not so much.