The Universal Tuning
Also known as the Verdi Tuning
Not many people know that the reference pitch that modern instruments tune to (the note A at 440 Hz) has not always been the standard. For those readers unfamiliar with "pitch" and what it means, I'll give a very brief, very simple summary: Sound, as we perceive it, is a vibration. This vibration has a wavelength that is measured in hertz. The lower this number, the lower the note. The higher the number, the higher the note (for a more in depth explanation, see the links at the bottom of this page).Orchestral music (symphonies, opera, etc.) has, at different times, used different reference points for tuning their instruments. The key of A has always been the standard, and all other pitches are tuned in relationship to the note A. However, A is not a fixed quantity. Depending upon within which time period a composer lived and wrote, the measurement of A might vary quite a bit. To quote a New York Times article:"The A used by most symphony and opera orchestras today for uniform tuning ranges between 440 hertz, or cycles per second, to 444 hertz. By comparison, in 1740, Handel favored an A pitched at 422 hertz. Mozart, in 1780, tuned to an A at 421.6 hertz. The French standardized their A at 435 hertz in 1858. A little more than 20 years later, Verdi succeeded in getting a bill passed by the Italian Parliament to tune at A 432 hertz. "One of the arguments by Verdi (among many others) for settling on A=432 Hz is that it sounds more pleasant and harmonious.Advocates of "The Universal Tuning" argue that the wavelength of certain pitches is inextricably linked to the natural harmonies of the universe and that all life has a mathmatical relationship to these vibrations. In a nutshell: Music that is tuned to be in harmony with this frequencies is nicer to listen to and affects our health and well being in a completely different (positive) way.This is a controvertial subject, depending upon ones perspective. However, I happen to find it sensible and so I'm choosing to offer instruments that are tuned to the Verdi tuning (A = 432 Hz).There is no extra charge for these instruments, you simply have to specify when you order your flute that you would like the Verdi tuning. Your flute will be marked accordingly (so that if it ever changes hands there will be no confusion regarding the flute being "flat").Just bear in mind that your flute will sound flat in pitch if you try to play with other instruments tuned to A=440 Hz.To learn more, please visit some of the websites below, or simply type "432 Hz tuning" into your search engine.