Concert A then provides the basis for overall concert pitch. Since 1939 the standard for the concert A in the United States, and thereby concert pitch, has been 440 Hz, or 440 vibrations per second, and 440 Hz is the most widely accepted industry standard throughout the world when one looks to musical instrument designs. A is in fact a rather arbitrary determination, which has provided a basis for ongoing arguments amongst intellectuals, musicians, instrument builders, and philosophers throughout history. This leads us to our question of whether concert pitch has been rising over time. In the past the determination of concert pitch tended to be established by instrument makers, in particular organ makers, and the requests of their clientele, usually the Church during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries.
Records show that concert pitch has varied widely from location to location as well as over time.
The following chart shows samples of concert pitch from the sixteenth century to now. At first glance if we follow the progression of this chart one would have to say the trend has been downward, although there have been instances when concert A has been substantially lower than 440 Hz, in particular the period from the mid-1600's to early 1800's. If one were to consider all these factors one could make a case that concert pitch has tended to rise over the last few centuries, although this argument's outcome will depend on which informational basis one utilizes to support their point of view. One could also note that not much has changed over the last 100 years. The setting of the standard for concert pitch can and does have an immediate and direct effect on one group of musicians - the singers.