Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 1996/05

From: Ralph Thiers <RETHIERS@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Saliva: friend or foe?
Date: Sun, 19 May 1996 13:42:47 -0400

I have been following the exchanges about Saliva - Friend or Foe. There is a
fundamental problem in this exchange, namely, the liquid in the clarinet bore
is not saliva. Because I have said this to local clarinetists and drawn
totally blank looks let me say it again. The liquid in the clarinet bore
produced by playing is NOT saliva. Air breathed into the lungs becomes loaded
with water vapor. On blowing this air into a horn the water vapor tends to
condense on any surface as liquid water This condensate is in fact distilled
water of rather high purity.. (We who wear glasses often breathe on our
lenses to wet them before wiping them.) The water in the bore contains none
of the proteins carbohydrates, or mucopolysaccharides of saliva. When it
evaporates it leaves no residue. There are indeed small traces of saliva and
its residue in the mouthpiece after playing, but not in the bore. How much
one salivates may affect the humidity of the breath, but not very much. What
does make a difference to the amount of condensate in the bore is the
relative humidity of the ambient air.

With respect to gurgling I find that some clarinets handle distillate better
than others. I have a Buffet R13 which has a constant gurgle problem unless
kept well oiled and frequently swabbed. I also have a Buffet Clear Clarinet.
It is made of glass-like plastic and is a beautiful instrument in several
ways. It is labeled B12 but its intonation is better than the R13 or my son s
Selmer G10. It enables one to see the distillation process. The bore first
gets a very light fog of condensation which coalesce into droplets as one
plays until (unless one swabs) small rivulets of water flow down the barrel.
If they miss all tone holes (as they do on this clarinet) then there is no
problem but if they fill one of the small less-often-used holes then when
that hole is opened a gurgle results. So as some have pointed out during the
exchanges, swabbing is a key.
But please stop thinking that clarinets are running with saliva.