Klarinet Archive - Posting 000310.txt from 1994/05

From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Ligatures
Date: Thu, 19 May 1994 02:53:41 -0400

On Wed, 18 May 1994, Dan Leeson wrote:

> Therefore I inquire what there is in a particular ligature that could
> have any effect at all on the character of the sound?

Not all energy produced by the vibrating reed is transferred to the air
column. A healthy amount bleeds off to the ligature. This damping is
frequency dependent. A "softer" ligature will tend to absorb more high
frequency energy than will a "harder" ligature with a resultant effect on
tone color. The configuration of the physical contact between the lig and
mpc will also make a big diff.