Posted by AW on November 15, 2002 at 15:59:06:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Orchestra tuning posted by Keith C. on November 15, 2002 at 15:06:23:
Orchestras tune to the instrument which is hardest to adjust in pitch, and that generally means the oboe. If a piano or a pipe organ is used with an orchestra, that will be used to set the pitch. A is a convenient note for the strings; the woodwinds don't care which note they tune to, and the brass players are supposed to be able to adjust their pitch on the fly.
Myself, I play a CC tuba, and don't find either A or Bb among my convenient open notes.