The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-28
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC SAYS ONLY
INTERNATIONAL PITCH MAY BE USED
Whether 1t Is True Standard Is a
Mooted Question-Many Bands
May Be Barred From Prize
Competition at the
Worlds Fair.

For at least twenty years the musicians
of the world have been divided into con-
tending camps. and the question on which
they split has been brought to a focus
by a recent ruling made by George w.
Stewart. formerly of Boston. but now Dr.
rector Of Music at the Worlds Fair. Mr..
Stewart insists that all bands that COM
pete in the Exposition contests shall tune
their instruments to the international
pitch. Many bandmasters assert that to
do this means a great outlay of money il
the bands do not wish to be disqualified.
Like the two principal schools of medi-
cine, there are what might be called two
schools Of music. The pitch is the divid-
ing line. All music is based on the sing
ing Of birds primarily. and on the tonal
quality of the human voice. The pitch is
the agreed tonal position of on the
scale, determined according to the num-
Der of vibrations a second. The nearer the
pitch of musical instruments is to that
Of the human voice the truer it Is. Ad-
vocates of the international pitch declare
it to be the true standard, while this
statement is controverted by those who
favor what is called the American pitch,
which is almost half a tone higher than
the international, or concert, as it is
oftentineS called.
DIFFERENT PITCHES.
To the ear not unsteady trained it is
difficult TO distinguish between the pitches.
The international pitch. because of its
lower position on the scale. is softer, dens-
er. more resonant and more agreeable to
the musicians that favor it. 1t is espe-
cially suitable for symphony, orchestra,
operate and concert purposes; The Ameri-
can pitch, keyed higher, lS Shrliler, more
piercing and stirring and is said by Its
advocates to be more brilliant than the
other. 1t is the pitch to which most band
Instruments are tuned.
| The difference between the pitches be-
| came so marked about twenty years ago
that musicians and instrument makers or
the world realized the necessity OF meet
ing to adopt a standard pitch to which
all instruments should be tuned, to pre-
serve the true standard of tonal quality.
They decided on the international pitcn
at an international congress, agreeing that
the true pitch shoul be based on 45 vi
brations q second, whereas the American
is based on 462 a second.
This was only the beginning of a cru
SADIE that has been waged ever since. The
William Wen Of No. l1ss South Seventh
was the first musician to adopt the inter
national pitch In st. Louis, taking the frst
step early in 1893. He made a careful
that such musicians as Sousa. Thomas.
Damrosch, Seidl and other prominent or
chestra and band leaders. used the inter.
national pitch, he, as a beginner, deferred
to their maturer Judgment In matters
musical. Speaking Of the question Mr..
Well said:
NOTHING BUT BEST.
Il am glad that Mr.. Stewart has taken
the stand that he has. The band and
other music competitions at the Worlds
Fair will be exhibitions of music. just
as there will be exhibitions Of everything
else. Nothing but the best and truest in
music should be shown. and 1 believe that
as the internatiOna pitch is the true
standard, he is right in insisting that all
bands must tune their instruments to that
pitch IL they wish to compete. Take in
the airship contests, for instance, certain
rules and regulations must be compiled
with by the contestants. If they do not
wish TO compete according TO the rules
they do not have to enter. What Is true
Of the airship contests is true of the band
competitions.