A440 was and probably still is call 'British Standard Pitch' I still use it in my concert work but do prefer to work at A441 and A442. Worked with a German Orchestra here in California a few years ago and they required A443. The higher pitch produces closer coincidental partials which gives a 'tighter' sound and more clarity.....a generally happier sound...in my humble opinion.... If a piano is usually tuned to 440 is takes quite an effort to get it to 442 and then keep it there...given that there is 20 tons of tension on a piano plate (frame) is seems fine to me that they get grumpy when someone disturbs their normal state...
Hope that helps...
Peter Sumner Curator of Pianos Stanford University California
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sj