[78-L] Choral key question

[David Lennick]

Got an interesting problem here, a group of 4 sides recorded by Decca in 1937, 
possibly on portable equipment, of a gospel group with piano accompaniment in 
Chicago (or by a team from Chicago on remote), and the speed drops radically on 
each side. Around 5 percent. My problem is to figure which key they're singing 
in! Obviously a good accompanist can play in just about any key, but which 
seems more likely, A or A Flat? (Okay, or G Sharp?) To start in A I need to go 
up close to 7%, and end the side around 2.2% up. A flat sounds a bit more 
natural but the sides will end up 4% down at the end. Any thoughts, choirmasters?

dl