Klarinet Archive - Posting 000149.txt from 1996/10

From: Dick Walters <waltersd@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: CO2 influencing pitch.
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 19:03:19 -0400

Luuk van Buul wrote:
>
> >
> > Does anybody know offhand how the varying CO2 content affects pitch? If the
> > speed of sound in CO2 is markedly different than in whatever the rest of
> > what we exhale (mainly N2???), than the pitch should change as we play a
> > long note/phrase.
> >
> > I'm probably at A@-----.
> >
> > Jordan
> > and glad to be back on the list
>
> I have some experience on this subject. Once a year I play at the Carnival
> festivity here in the south of Holland with a small band. We drink lots of
beer
> during those days and we play a lot of music, very loud and for the clarinet
> very high also (just remove the register key :) ).
> The beer in my stomach contains lots of CO2 and this is pressed out during
> playing by applying the firm pressure needed to blow. So, sometimes, I belch
> while playing. This brings lots of CO2 in my breath and in the clarinet. The
> pitch is immediately affected and lowers for about a quarter of a tone, and
then
> climbs slowly back, up to the old pitch.
>
> Luuk van Buul
>
> --
>
===============================================================================
=
> L.J.M. van Buul
vanbuul@-----.com
> Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics
Centre
> Prof.Holstlaan 4
> 5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40
2744649
> The Netherlands Fax. +31 40
2744335
>
===============================================================================
=
might be more fun than buying a longer barrel for a sharp horn.

Dick W