Klarinet Archive - Posting 001440.txt from 1997/10

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Wood
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 20:44:32 -0500

On Thu, 30 Oct 1997, Chuck and Dorothy Bishop wrote:

> 1.) A recent posting indicated that grenadilla, ebony and African
> Blackwood are different names for the same wood. Should Mpinco also
> be included in that list?

Yes, I think that refers to the same wood, except that I believe a better
spelling for it is "Mpingo."

> 2.) A recent article in the Ricerside (CA) Press-Enterpeise stated
> that a nasty weed (The Weed from Hell) called Orundo was choking up
> our stream beds.
> [..............]
> The article stated that it is also the world's only source of
> natural clarinet reeds. Is this true?????

Again, true, although I have always seen this word spelled "Arundo."
According to sources I am familiar with the complete scientific name is
"Arundo Donax." Quite a few people are experimenting with cane from
California, New Mexico, Louisiana and other places, but to date, the
belief among musicians is that the best cane is grown along the
Mediterranean in France, and to a lesser degree in Spain and a small
section of Italy. But, I recently heard it said that for several years,
one of the major French dealers in cane has been selling cane grown in
Argentina.

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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