Klarinet Archive - Posting 000198.txt from 1995/02

From: David Gilman <dagilman@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Caution, More Physics!
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 13:40:53 -0500

Jonathan,
You say that our pitch goes flat as we blow harder because our upper
harmonic content increases. This assumes, I infer, that upper harmonics in
the clarinet's tonal spectrum are flat by nature. As we climb to higher
registers, higher partials become fundamentals. [first in the chalumeau and
throat, third in the clarion, fifth for c'''# through open f'''#, etc.] If
this is true, why do so many clarinets play sharp in the altissimo register?
Is it the fingerings we use, or lip pressure, or what?

David Gilman