Klarinet Archive - Posting 001552.txt from 1998/04

From: Grant Green <gdgreen@-----.com>
Subj: Materials
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 17:12:11 -0400

At 02:33 PM 4/27/98 -0400, Edinger/Gilman wrote:
>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 air column vibrates, yes, and is probably the major contributor to the
sound of the instrument, as a first approximation. For example, the manner
in which you start the column vibrating makes quite a difference: compare
the flute timbre and the clarinet timbre - both have very similar bores and
air columns. Consider how much we obsess over mouthpieces...

As for the body material, this can make a difference if the body resonates
during play. Some of the energy in the air column is transferred to the
body of the horn when the air column is excited. How much energy depends
on the body thickness and stiffness, the distance along the bore (e.g.,
whether there is a vibrational node near a spot capable of vibrating), and
the frequencies involved. Energy absorbed by the walls may or may not be
reradiated as sound (and won't necessarily be exactly the same pitch as the
note played), but in any event may alter the sound produced by the air
column. Resonances may dampen some of the harmonics in your timbre, and
may emphasize others.

The question is then whether the effect is enough to make a difference in
the timbre produced. For instruments with relatively thick walls, like
clarinets, oboes, and bassoons, I doubt that the differences are
significant for well-made instruments. I believe companies like Fox (and
Loree?) now offer professional oboes with resin top joints, at the same
prices as all-wood instruments (plastic, of course, is much less likely to
crack...). Bassoons are made from a variety of woods, and one rarely hears
an argument over which kind is best. On the other hand, thin-walled
instruments like flutes are available in a variety of different metals,
alloys, and wall thicknesses, which apparently do affect the timbre.

Grant

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Grant D. Green gdgreen@-----.com
www.contrabass.com Just filling in on sarrusophone
Contrabass email list: list@-----.com
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