Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 1997/03

From: Roger Lewis & Denise Gulliver-Lewis <pmflewis@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Reed theory
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 12:49:45 -0500

On March 5, David Blumberg wrote:

> If someone invented a reed holder that held the reed flat on glass with
> equal, and hard pressure (not enough to crush the fibers) at All points of
> the reed (top and bottom). Would warping not be possible, as the reed would
> have to dry flat?

....................

David,

Interesting theory! After some thought, I came up with two problems.
Maybe they could be corrected through superior technology :-).

1. Pressure would have to be light enough not to crush fibers swollen
with water, and lighter yet at the tip where there are fewer fibers.
And what about those reeds that seem more 'absorbant' than others?

2. As reeds dry, they 'shrink'. Could pressure be adjusted to
accomodate this?

Nice problem to think through!

Denise Gulliver-Lewis
Principal Clarinet
Elkhart Symphony