Klarinet Archive - Posting 000084.txt from 1997/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: reed allergy
Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 21:10:32 -0400

On Fri, 2 May 1997 peter.stoll@-----.ca wrote:

> Recently while adjudicating at a music festival, a student asked me what
> she could do; she has developed an allergic reaction to reed cane that
> causes her lower lip to swell up; only copious amounts of some sort of
> cold creme gets her through playing. I could only think of saran wrap as
> a potential insulator; obviously we need flexible and sensitive contact
> of the lower lip with the reed. Has anyone run into this? She does not
> want to play fibrecane reeds, for reasons of the kind of sound you can
> expect to get.

What she is probably allergic to is not the cane itself, but to the
mineral content in the pores of the cane. The mineral content depends to
a degree on that of the soil in which the cane grew, but it probably
contains certain water soluble salts, and may also include calcium,
phosphorous, and other minerals.

The solution may be a lengthy soaking period to remove the minerals from
the fibres. I realize that this is heresy in the clarinet world, but I
can assure one and all that it will work and that no harm will come to the
reeds as a result. I subject all the cane from which I make bassoon reeds
to such a soaking period, and also do the same with my saxophone reeds.

Later, I'll try to find time to post a more complete description of the
process, but for the moment, here is a brief outline.

1. Soak your reeds in distilled water.

2. Keep them in an airtight container, and leave no air space in the
container.

3. Keep the container in a dark place, as algae need light in order to
multiply.

4. Change the water after the first 24 hours, and then at least every 48
hours thereafter. The minimum soaking period is probably about 5 days.
However, I have made reeds from cane which has soaked for periods of up to
several months with no apparent negative effects.

Reeds treated in this way need no breaking-in period. Normally, each time
a reed is wet, then dried and wet again, more of these minerals leach out,
which causes the reed to change each time it is played. Reeds treated to
a long soaking period tend to remain relatively unchanged in successive
playings.

Now, I'll stop, and give everyone time to recover from their shock at this
radical suggestion. As I mentioned above, I'll post more later.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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