Posted by Rick Denney on May 13, 2003 at 16:01:14:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: 3 valve vs. 4 valve for beginner? posted by Frederick J. Young on May 12, 2003 at 12:03:23:
I have played three-valve compensators with rotten intonation and uncompensated instruments with excellent intonation, so there must be something else going on.
My own reading of the musical design and acoustics literature suggests a wide range of influences on intonation, with the lengths of the valve branches being just one element. It seems to me that flexibility is more important than anything except for the brain of the musician. If that brain doesn't understand intonation, then no instrument will provide it.
Of course, good intonation is defined in comparison with other instruments and voices. Accurate pitches against the tuning standard of your choice does not good intonation make.
Rick "noting the tuning trigger on current Besson Prestige euphoniums" Denney