Klarinet Archive - Posting 000699.txt from 1996/10

From: "David B. Niethamer" <niethamer@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Here a chirp, there a chirp, everywhere . . . .
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 19:58:54 -0500

>Subject: Here a chirp, there a chirp, everywhere . . . .
>
>Please pardon the jovial subject header. I'm somewhat
>embarrassed to ask this very basic question, but I
>am not able to discover the answer myself.
>
>"What causes reed chirping?"
>
>My guess is that a part of the reed is too dense (hard)
>for the corresponding part of the mouthpiece curve or window.
>Is that near correct? I tend not to believe that it is
>a matter of warpage because I keep the backs of my
>reeds very flat. Disturbingly, I experience the chirping
>phenomenon more on some mouthpieces than others. I
>have one mouthpiece that I _cannot_ play. No reed
>sounds on it without chirping. Other mpcs never chirp.
>I can avoid chirping by dexterous playing (proof of
>David Hattner's philosophy that _anything_ can be played
>if necessary). What does this say about the physics of
>"chirping". Sincere and deep apologies for the ancient,
>tired old thread. ----Bill F.

I wonder if your mouthpiece that you _cannot_ play is severely warped?
Also, if I remember your preferences accurately, you like to switch
mouthpieces frequently. I find that reeds settle in on one mouthpiece and
won't "seal" on another after they're broken in, possibly because the
"flat" table is not *exactly* the same from mouthpiece to mouthpiece. To
try a new mouthpiece with any degree of seriousness, I need to make a new
batch of reeds, get them somewhat broken in, and then use them to try the
new mpc.

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
niethamer@-----.edu
dbnclar1@-----.com
http://users.aol.com/dbnclar1/

   
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