Konserttonen

Konserttonen, or the concert pitch, is the standard reference frequency used to tune musical instruments before performances. The most widely adopted value today is A4 = 440 Hz, defined by international standards such as ISO 16: Standard Musical Pitch. In practice, orchestras and choirs tune their instruments by using an oboe or a tuning device to emit A4, and players adjust to that pitch at the start of a concert.

Historically, there was no single konserttonen. Pitch varied by country, city and era, and even within ensembles. Baroque and Classical period performances often used lower tunings, commonly around A4 = 415 Hz, to reflect period instruments and aesthetics. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, pitch gradually rose in many places, and some orchestras now tune to 442 Hz or higher for specific effects or venues. Modern practice generally remains close to 440 Hz, though there is some variation regionally or by ensemble.

The choice of konserttonen influences instrument construction, string tension, and playing technique, as well as the perceived brightness and stability of tuning in different rooms. Weather and temperature can cause pitch drift, so conductors and tuners may adjust on site. In historical performance, period-appropriate pitch is sometimes deliberately used to reproduce authentic sound.

Related terms include concert pitch, standard pitch, and A440.