Klarinet Archive - Posting 000892.txt from 1999/11

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] mouthpiece slime
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 10:25:54 -0500

Lelia,

Yes, it was I who wrote about the bassoon bocal, but it was a very long ago, too
far back to find, so I'll tell the story again.

I gave a bassoon clinic to a school district. All band teachers and bassoon
students were invited.

One item on my agenda was to demonstrate how to clean a bocal with a bocal
brush. I chose a bocal at random from the audience. I put it to soak in in a
container of warm water and dishwashing detergent. I had a second container
filled with clear water. My plan was to brush out the bocal into the second
container with the clear water, thinking that any small particles removed would
be captured and suspended in the rinse water. I could then show this to
everyone.

After about a ten minute soak in the soapy water, I ran the brush into the bocal
from the cork end. Out came this long white worm of malm, years of accumulated
residue. This ghastly extrusion oozed from the reed end for about four inches
before plopping into the bowl of clear water.

The collective reaction was one of gasping, gagging and shrieking. My
demonstration was effective far beyond my fondest hopes.

LeliaLoban@-----.com wrote:

<Clip>

Several months

> ago, someone (Richard Bush?) wrote an unforgettable anecdote (on the
> alt.music.saxophone NG?) about inspecting students' bocals for a classroom
> demonstration. (Hey, Richard, was that you? Encore!) I had (and passed up)
> a chance to buy a Bundy bassoon recently. I think something died in that
> bocal. Pee-yew!
>
> Lelia
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.
>
>

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