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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000011.txt from 2003/04

From: Arthur Grossman <artg@-----.edu>
Subj: [DR-L] Re: Trying to figure out this bassoon shape (fwd)
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 21:27:45 -0500

The message below did not go through, guess I am unauthorized to write to
IDRS lists!!

Arthur Grossman, Professor Emeritus
Bassoon, Heckelphone and Contrabassoon
School of Music
Box 353450
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3450

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 18:25:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Arthur Grossman <artg@-----.edu>
To: idrs-l@-----.edu
Subject: Re: Trying to figure out this bassoon shape

I shaped cane by hand for about 3 or 4 years, long ago. After profiling,
I folded the cane and then simply carved it with a knife. It is really not
too difficult. The reason that I did it was that I was experimenting with
different shapes, and I could not afford to buy all the shapers I would
have needed. I used a calipers to check the dimensions as I was carving
the shapes, and then recorded them. Eventually I was able to compare
dimensions to playing characteristics to determine the shape that worked
best for me. I was very fortunate to find, on my old teacher's desk, a
shaper she was no longer using, which was almost exactly the shape I
wanted.

Arthur Grossman, Professor Emeritus
Bassoon, Heckelphone and Contrabassoon
School of Music
Box 353450
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3450

On Tue, 1 Apr 2003, Jennifer Sadoff wrote:

> Thank you to all who responded to my question about bassoon reed shape.
> Indeed the shape I like so much is attached to cane I get from Christlieb
> (Tony sells the products out of CA). I didn't mention it because I didn't
> realize the shape was so localized - I thought it was more of a general
> style of shape (cup-shaped, German, convex...). I would like to be able to
> shape the cane on my own, and I think I will take Tony up on his offer to
> check out the shaper.
>
> The comments about shaping by hand are intriguing. I am trying this
> technique, but I have to admit that I enjoy the (relative) consistancy that
> using a shaper affords. I tried the Vario shaper, which is very cool - it
> is an adjustable shaper, that gives you control over the dimensions. It's a
> very interesting tool. Maybe some people on the list have tried it?
>
> Thanks again to all!
>
> Jennifer
>
>
>