Posted by Rick Denney on March 05, 2003 at 18:27:48:
In Reply to: "Low" Pitch posted by ??? on March 05, 2003 at 17:48:25:
Over the years, there has been no stable standard for pitch, until the A-440 standard was adopted in some circles in the 30's.
Before that, one common standard was called "International Standard" which was A-435. Lots of instruments built to that standard were called low-pitch instruments. Another standard (used until surprisingly recently in brass bands, for example) adopted a much higher standard pitch, which was called high-pitch. Back in Baroque times, the standard pitch was probably more like A-425, which means all those old violins are really being strung-up tight. My 1887 piano was tuned to A-435 originally, but I've had it tuned up to A-440 (yes, I know it was a risk, but it worked).
There are books written on this subject, but this is the relevant synopsis.
Rick "whose 1937 Reynolds euph is definitely a low-pitch instrument" Denney