Do most orchestras tune to 442 or 440? is it weird for an orchestra to tune to 442? lol?

Question

i didnt think it was weird... but i just got someone elses opinion, and so i was just wondering what all of you thought

Answer 1

Lots of orchestras tune to 442 for a brighter tone. Also, apparently the Boston Symphony Orchestra tunes to 444, NY Phil tunes to 443, and Berlin Phil tunes to 445.

Answer 2

I know that orchestras in other countries tune to different A's then 440, but I thought 440 was pretty much standard for US orchestras.  

I feel sorry for the people with perfect pitch that play in a 442 orchestra.  That must be unpleasant.

Answer 3

Orchestras tune to 440.  Baroque performance groups can tune to less than 440 (438 or less), but not higher than 440.

I am fascinated by the person, above, who wrote:

>>Lots of orchestras tune to 442 for a brighter tone. Also, apparently the Boston Symphony Orchestra tunes to 444, NY Phil tunes to 443, and Berlin Phil tunes to 445

...if this is true, this is news to me.  

I've posted this query on several newsgroups, just to check.  Write me privately if you'd like to know the response.

Answer 4

Many European orchestras tune to 442, and the practice has caught on here in the States as well. It is so common now that most tuned percussion instruments (xylophones, orchestra bells, etc.) come standard as 442, and must be special ordered for 440.