Klarinet Archive - Posting 000526.txt from 1996/05

From: Delton Sizemore <sizemod@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Cigarette paper: friend or foe?
Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 23:10:30 -0400

You should be able to get a single box of Whatman filter paper from a
laboratory supply place. There are many kinds of the paper but the ones
with wet stength are the obvios ones. However I tried it and it didn't
clear the water completely from my A key the other day. I think the answer
is to swab the clarinet after playing it for a few minutes. That way the
bore is
evenly wetted and the condensation does not coalesce into rivulets which
track into the key holes but runs to the bottom of the bore and down the
length of the clarinet and out onto the floor instead of the key holes.
I was concerned about this when some time ago someone said that some
auditions can be so competitive that water in a key could give reason
to fail the audition. I thought this is sometimes unavoidable surely.
But I think not if you swab at the appropriate times. The go would be to
have a stiff one instead of a dangly one so you could quickly pull off
the mp and give a quick swab from either end and continue to play all in
the space of say 3 bars of rest. Just the mp roll into the string
section in the process!

Del Sizemore
Lismore
Australia

On Mon, 20 May 1996, Steven A. Haaser wrote:

> Del,
>
> Consider the cost to the average clarinet player. Watson's Ashless filter
> paper: where can you buy it? In less than case quantity? ....
> I think it is a bit too thick, but I haven't tried any in years.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve
> ============================================================================
> @-----.edu | +1 (301) 953-6597 =
> = The Johns Hopkins University / Applied Physics Laboratory =
> = Johns Hopkins Road / Laurel, MD USA 20723-6099 =
> ============================================================================
> >
> Wouldn't laboratory filter paper be much better? It would certainly
> absorb more water than cigarette pape. I work in a laboratory so I'll
> take some home and try it tonight.
>
> Del Sizemore
> Lismore
> Australia
>