A Musical Analogy That Can Be Applied to Democratic Primary Politics, Perhaps.

[MineralMan]

Last edited Tue Mar 31, 2020, 11:38 AM - Edit history (1)

Today, most musical organizations agree that the A above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hertz. While stringed instruments can be tuned to other frequency standards, wind instruments are not as flexible. In most orchestras, the oboe, which is the least flexible in its ability to change its pitch, gives the A to the orchestra, which tunes to that note.

Oboists are strange people, to be sure. I know this because I used to play the oboe, on a semi-professional basis. Oboists are fanatical about making their own reeds, which they make to center around the 440 Hertz A. Since we are required to provide the pitch to the orchestra, we have tuning forks or electronic tuners we consult to make sure our A is precisely at 440 Hertz in the environment where music is to be played. That helps to avoid arguments. Most oboists detest the role of giving the A. Many string players might prefer a slightly sharper pitch, which leads to all sorts of strange conflicts.

A, however, was not always set at 440 Hertz. In times past, the standard pitch was considerably sharper or flatter. Some musical organizations, like baroque orchestras, tune to A = 415 Hertz, for example. So baroque wind players have to have a completely different instrument to play in such orchestras.

Purchasers of vintage wind instruments must also be careful that their instruments are capable of playing at today's A = 440 pitch, since many instruments made prior to about 1930, were made to play at a higher pitch. That occasionally cause problems for beginning school musicians when their grandfather gives them their otherwise fine trumpet or clarinet.

It is impossible to make euphonious music unless everyone agrees on the standard pitch. At different times, European orchestras, for example, played at various non-standard pitches, different for each country. It was chaotic for wind instrument musicians from other places to try to play with groups from other nations.

So, an international standard of A = 440 Hertz eventually became the recognized pitch, and everything got easier.

Democrats and Republicans do not agree, pitch-wise, and cannot play musically together. From time to time, different pitches come into even established parties, like the Democratic Party. When that happens, discord and a lack of harmony occur. Before any music can be played harmoniously, all of the players have to agree what the A is for that party. If that does not occur, there is no possibility for the entire party to play in tune together, and that party often fails to please the audience.

I suggest that we all tune to one pitch. That works best. Just don't ask me to give the pitch. I don't play any longer.