Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
philharmonic pitch

philharmonic pitch

7.9
A standard musical note used to tune instruments, usually the A above middle C at 440 hertz
  • noun
  • /ˌfɪl.əˈmɔː.nɪk pɪtʃ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tónica filarmónica
  • The violinist adjusted her strings to match the philharmonic pitch of A at 440 Hz.

Examples

  • Most orchestras today tune their instruments to philharmonic pitch before performances.

  • The orchestra used a standard philharmonic pitch for tuning.

  • Disagreements about philharmonic pitch have occurred in music history, with different standards in various eras.

  • Is the philharmonic pitch set to 440 hertz?

  • Most orchestras today tune their instruments to philharmonic pitch before performances.

  • The violinist adjusted her strings to match the philharmonic pitch of A at 440 Hz.

  • The orchestra used a standard philharmonic pitch for tuning.

Synonyms

international pitch
vsphilharmonic pitch
  • Specialized
6.5

A standard note for tuning instruments where the A above middle C is 440

has identical meaning but uses a different conventional name for the same tuning
concert pitch
vsphilharmonic pitch
  • Specialized
5.3

A standard note that instruments tune to, usually the A above middle C at 440 Hz

means the same tuning but is an alternative conventional label for it

Surface Forms

philharmonic pitch singular
philharmonic pitches plural

Morphology

philharmonic + pitch

The meaning is compositionally built from 'philharmonic' (relating to orchestras) + 'pitch' (frequency of a sound), so a learner who knows both words can infer this refers to the standard/orchestral tuning pitch. The precise technical detail (e.g. 440 Hz for A4) is specialist knowledge but does not prevent understanding the general sense, making the expression transparently derivable.

Etymology

Philharmonic pitch comes from orchestras called philharmonic that set one tuning pitch for everyone before a concert, usually the note 'A' at '440 Hz'. So philharmonic pitch now means the standard note used to tune instruments for performances.