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The new site allows an ongoing show calendar, advance ticket sales, downloading  PDF's lead sheets and arrangements of original tunes, and much more.  People on our mailing list will be rewarded with periodic free tracks and music pdf's to download. You can sign up for the mailing list newsletter below.

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A440 eh? 

Technical Corner  

      A440 is our pitch standard. Nerveless, pitch variations remain around the globe.

     Here is a short expose on past and current pitch variations. 


      There is a Chickering piano I tune regularly  that has embossed on the plate, "International Standard Pitch A435" That is 20 cents lower then A440;  A pitch established in Paris in 1880. Montreal Symphony officially uses A442 , 8 cents sharper then 440.  At the turn of the century the Steinway factory would deliver pianos at your choice of "soft pitch" or "hard pitch" , being a440 and A452(48cents sharper) respectively. A452 was the official British Military band pitch.  I own a C melody saxophone from 1917 with tuning fork symbol and the words "low pitch" stamped on the back. "Low pitch" is A440.  Thus far I have discussed a 70 cent range, nearly a full semitone.  
      It is worth taking note of current variations.  I have seen musicians get into trouble. I recall a show I was tuning for at Maison de Culture in Gatineau.  A first show of a tour. They were using some tracks with recorded string players and some orchestral instruments.  Apparently they had the trax produced somewhere In Europe, and they were at A444. They did not realize the significance of this until their first sound check with a piano at A440, 16 cents lower.  
    This reality has implications for our understanding of "perfect pitch".  With historical variations of over a semitone, it appears not to be absolute, but simply an extraordinary memory for whatever one has been exposed to over time.  
      In conclusion, here is a brief overview of some historically significant pitch references.  
      Take note that at A400 , one hz variation to A441 is 4 cents. There are 100 cents in a semitone. This is an approximation for Hz graphed against cents it in fact an exponential curve.  
Never less if you consider that a full semitone is approximately A 415 to 440 you will appreciate the variations below fully.  

c. 1715 A= 419.9, England. Crude tenor fork, possibly made by John Shore, the inventor of the tuning fork. 
1751 A=422.5, London. Handel's tuning fork. The box which contains the fork bears the inscription: "This pitchfork was the property of the Immortal Handel and left by him at the Foundling Hospital, when the Messiah was performed in 1751." 
1780 A= 421.3, Vienna. Tuning fork of the Saxon organ builder Schulz who lived in Vienna during Mozart's lifetime. 
c.1820 A=433, London. "Pitch approved by Sir George Smart, conductor of the Philharmonic 
1829 A=425.5, Paris. Pitch of the piano at the opera 
1839 A=448, Hamburg. Opera pitch. 
1859 A=456.1, Vienna. Sharp Vienna pitch from a fork in the possession of the Streicher Piano Co. The Viennese orchestral pitch as used before the introduction of the French Diapason Normal. 
1878 A= 436, London. Standard pitch of church organs taken from Metzler's tuning fork 
1880 A=444.9, London. Her majesty's opera. From a tuning fork of the theatre as measured by Hipkins 
1880 A=446.2, London. Tuning fork used by John Broadwood and Co for in house tunings but not for public concerts.

Upcoming events

Previous events

DR. JAZZ AT IRENES

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IRENE'S, 885 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W4, Ottawa

Sunday, Feb 18th, 3pm
Dr Jazz is back at Irene's this year for Mari Gras Matinee!!! Celebrate Mardi Gras with our all-star lineup of some of Ottawa's best Jazz Musicians. Ed Lister on Trumpet, Steve Berndt on trombone, David Renaud on clarinets and saxophones, Keith Walton on Tuba, Craig Kennedy on guitar and banjo, and Jamie Holmes on drums.

David Renaud

NAC 4TH STAGE, 1 Elgin , Ottawa

The Ottawa Jazz Orchestra returns to the National Arts Centre and kicks off its 2024 season with an evening of fabulous swing music featuring seminal works originally performed by legendary bandleaders Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. Performed by a quintet from the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra featuring the virtuosity of clarinetist David Renaud and special guest vibraphonist from Montreal, François Stevenson. They will be joined by the trio of Mark Ferguson on piano, Adrian Cho on double bass, and Mark Rehder on drums. Follow this link for tickets.....

Join us to ring in the new year with cocktails, canapes, and fun and unique entertainment! Your ticket includes a welcome cocktail, passed canapes, poutine, candy bar, and champagne toast at midnight! Bring a friend and get a 15% discount on your tickets!

Come dressed to impress, and don't forget your 1920's attire!

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."