Beethoven's tuning fork (A=455.4 Hz) proves that A440 was not natural, but was chosen. The history of how local pitch died and cathedrals became unplayed instruments is revealed through the destruction of Europe's bells, beginning with France's 1859 diapason normal (A=435) and ending with Verdi's 432 Hz appeal. Most people argue 432 vs 440. That debate misses the real loss: thousands of place-specific frequencies tuned to specific bells, organs, stone, and reverberant chambers. When bells were melted for coins, cannons, and industry, the reference pitches vanished along with the bronze. The rest was taken care of by standardization.
