Klarinet Archive - Posting 000293.txt from 1996/10

From: Frances M Robinson <intm5%york.ac.uk@-----.BITNET>
Subj: Re: bass doubling
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 17:43:09 -0400

Dear All,
3 weeks ago I started playing the OBOE(please don't victimise me!
I can't help it, i love the sound) and th reeds for that are realy fiddly,
miniscule type efforts. Anyway, the thing about soaking reeds that i've
never ever understood is that when you play it its going to be in your
germ-filled mouth anyway, so why are we worried about it before? And by
the way, after my lenghthy absence i return with grade IV merit (136/150)

a bientot
Frances

On Wed, 9 Oct 1996, Jacqueline Eastwood wrote:

> On Tue, 8 Oct 1996, Neil Leupold wrote:
>
> >
> > I think that same person suggested dipping the mouthpiece w/reed in a cup
> > of water during rests in the music. This sounds very interesting to me.
> > I assume one would need to draw the excess water off of the reed after
> > dipping (by inhaling on the mouthpiece), lest the reed become
> > water-logged and fail to vibrate when it's time to switch to bass. This
> > water dipping idea sounds the best so far as a suggestion, as long as the
> > reed isn't saturated and there's time enough to place the mouthpiece back
> > on the instrument after playing soprano -- and prior to the next entrance on
> > bass.
> >
> > Neil
> >
> I'm just curious now... how many people out there use reed water? I have
> done so for MANY years and couldn't do without it! The reed soaks so
> much more evenly than sticking it in your (germ-filled) mouth and sucking
> on it! I also think that it's somewhat cleaner!
>
> Jacqueline
>