concert-pitch
|con-cert-pitch|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑn.sɚt pɪtʃ/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɒn.sət pɪtʃ/
standard/sounding reference pitch
Etymology
'concert-pitch' is a modern English compound formed from 'concert' and 'pitch'. 'concert' originates from Italian 'concerto', from Latin 'concertare', where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'certare' meant 'to contend' or 'to strive'; 'pitch' (in the sense of tone) originates from Old English 'pīċ' / Middle English 'pich', from a Germanic root meaning 'point' or 'height'.
'concert' passed into English via Italian 'concerto' and French 'concert' (with senses of agreement and musical performance) and entered English usage for musical gatherings; 'pitch' evolved from Old English/Middle English forms into the modern word 'pitch'. The compound 'concert-pitch' arose in English as ensembles and instrument tuning standards developed in the 18th–19th centuries (standardization such as A=440Hz became common in the 20th century).
Originally, 'concert' had senses of agreement or joint action and 'pitch' meant the height of a sound; over time the compound came to mean a standardized reference (sounding) pitch used for tuning and notation, especially in orchestral and ensemble contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a standard reference pitch (the pitch to which instruments are tuned), often referring to A = 440 Hz or the general standard used for tuning an ensemble.
The orchestra tuned to concert-pitch before the performance.
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Noun 2
the sounding pitch as opposed to transposed (written) pitch; used to indicate that notes are presented at the actual sounding pitch for non-transposing instruments.
This score is written at concert-pitch, so transposing players must read accordingly.
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Adjective 1
describing an instrument, score, or tuning that uses or is adjusted to the standard/reference pitch (e.g., a concert-pitch instrument).
She prefers a concert-pitch flute rather than a transposing instrument.
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Last updated: 2025/09/25 15:51