Klarinet Archive - Posting 000171.txt from 1998/08

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet dislikes hot summer?
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 07:40:38 -0400

From: Mark A. Bradley <markb@-----.com>
<sniP<
>It is most likely the falut of the reed and not the clarinet itself. As
>I understand it reeds are very susceptible to climate and humidity
>changes.

There was a lecture at ClarinetFest (Donald Casadonte's excellent lecture)
which touched this very subject. Reeds, once wet and put in the mouth, are
in a stable environment. The inside of your mouth is much more warm and
humid than the outside air! However, the air density varies with pressure,
causing the instrument to play differently, and there are physiological
changes to the human body to compensate for humidity and pressure levels
(lips and tongue swell and shrink). Different reeds can compensate for these
changes - it's not the reed's fault, though.

----
Mark Charette@-----.org
Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet
All-around good guy and devil-may-care flying fool.
"There can be no freedom without discipline." - Nadia Boulanger

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