Klarinet Archive - Posting 000669.txt from 1999/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Irregular Mouthpieces
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 04:11:35 -0500

In a message dated 11/16/99 5:37:51 PM Central Standard Time,
redcedar@-----.au writes:

<< Yet smack bang in the middle of this
airflow channel of curved surfaces from lungs to clarinet bell, there is a
decidedly angular throat in an otherwise smoothly shaped mouthpiece. To cap
it off, some manufacturers take pride in making more acute, the angle of the
walls of the throat, which seems even less consistent with an assumed desire
for smooth flow and roundedness of sound.
There is clearly something fundamental missing in my understanding, so I
would appreciate an explanation from you, or indeed anyone else, who could
shed light on this for me. >>

If you could get a copy of Stubbins' "the Art of Clarinetistry" and read it,
you will find he explains this quite well. Much better than I can.

The "beak" of a mouthpiece forms a "venturi" shape, which concentrates the
air stream. This shape has been played with in many ways by different
manufacturers, and they keep coming back to the same solution, but hopefully
with better understanding of the realtionships in dimensions, and the effect
of different baffel shapes. (Could talk just about baffle shape for about two
hours here).

The chamber of the mouthpiece is part of the bore of the clarinet. In theory
it should be matched very carefully with the clarinet itself. Length,
diameter, and shape are VERY important here.

Unfortunately, these things are little known to most clarinettists, and are
hard to observe and measure without very specialized tools.

Maybe Mr. Leger, having perfected the reed, can now turn his attention to
mouthpieces and manufacture some that are MICRONS within tolerance. Then we
could really talk comparisons!!!

Until something like that happens, we remain in the dark!

Walter Grabner
who is...........
ClarinetXpress
Mouthpieces & More!!!!
http://www.clarinetxpress.com

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