Klarinet Archive - Posting 001477.txt from 1998/04

From: Edinger/Gilman <wde1@-----.com>
Subj: sound, shape, and material
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 13:42:39 -0400

Regarding Cindy's observations and impressions of sounding a bit
different on instruments of different materials - may I suggest that it
really isn't the material, but perhaps others factors, maybe primarily
the shape of the tube, that have the effect you feel you get. We've
pretty well established, I think, that the material indeed does NOT
affect the sound because it is the air column that is vibrating, not the
instrument itself. On the other hand, can't pad types, tone hole
shapes, and especially bore dimensions significantly affect the air
column's behavior and therefore the sound? In other words, the shape of
the instrument (including what may seem to be very subtle,
inconsequential differences) rather than the material it is made of is
the critical factor. Comparing several different instruments introduces
a lot more variables than just material of construction. Also, there
seems to be a concensus that barrel and even bell shape can have
significant effects, without bringing material into question at all.

Bill Edinger