Gerald Moore and perfect pitch

by Don
(Pittsburgh, PA)

The late Gerald Moore was a highly respected accompanist, particularly of lieder. In his autobiography _Am I Too Loud?_ he describes how he had perfect pitch, and gradually lost it as he aged. Rather than lamenting this, he celebrates it: "The gradual loss of perfect pitch has been an advantage to me as an accompanist, since it makes the act of transposing less hazardous for me--and for the singer."