Klarinet Archive - Posting 000802.txt from 2000/02

From: Topper <leo_g@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Bore:Oil_&_Moisture/r/Clarinettiquette Question
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 10:18:47 -0500

Dear Wayne,

I feel out of place and don't want to be interrupting and placing my nose
where it should not belong; but, are you sure you want to put English wood
oil in the bore of an instrument? And if we are talking about "Old English"
brand I have to say please do not do that to an instrument as it would be
ruined. This oil is far too heavy and contains agents which will cause the
eventually bastardization of the cellular structure in the wood. This oil
will also weigh the wood down and close the microscopic pores in the wood.
It will change the resonance as well.

Over oiling of an instrument (any instrument) will shorten it's life. A
clarinet must breath to a degree and should be maintained a balance of
moisture. You may wish to use an oil which is natural and will dry and has
a PH similar to what grenadilla likes.

It is best to refrain from the application of oil and water (breath
condensation) during the same period. Maintaining a proper balance of oil
and how the oil is applied is crucial. I enjoy resting the clarinet apart
and out its case to ensure the moisture has dried prior to oiling. I then
allow the thin film of oil to dry overnight before playing. Or, I allow the
parts to dry overnight then oil them early in the morning. I will not
schedule a day off for oil but I will take advantage of any time off to dry
and apply, then dry the oil.

A swab used with oil should just be for oil and should only contain a
sparse amount of oil enough so that two or three swipes should leave a
coating of oil without streaks of dry bore showing. Every so often during
dry periods as in winter with dry heat or in dry climates, or during
periods of excessive playing, you should use a bit more oil.

Generally, you can see when the bore starts to become dry as it will lose
its sheen or start to appear powdery (very dry). This is thirst for oil. In
this case oil well and allow the oil to dry thoroughly, without wiping the
excess off for at least an entire day. The bore should have an even shine
when the excess is cleaned with a clean dry swab.

Every so often I disassemble my clarinets and use a cotton swab to clean
and oil the tone holes. This for most people would seem a bit excessive or
expensive as not every player should take their clarinet apart, and may ask
a technician to do this. For me I was fortunate enough to have clarinet
players in the family long before the Albert System. So there was always a
workbench in every house.

I make my own bore oil from an old family recipe. Essentially it is sweet
expeller pressed almond oil you can get in a health food store. Keep it
refrigerated and always pour it from the container into a smaller bottle or
into a small tin. This is also great in salads and for cooking. That's
the point. I will never put anything into/onto my clarinet I would not put
onto me. I still use goose grease for tenon corks. Gives me an excuse to
have roast goose now and then.:-)

Moisture balance is another story.

Leo

>Dear Jonathan,
>
>Use the swab or the cleaning cloth for the clarinet between the passage is
>quite
>normal to a clarinet player, audience understand this procedure and would not
>mind it. Try to put some English wood oil on the swab then swab inside the
>clarinet, thus would make the spit (not all of the water are spit, because
>when
>the warm air blow into the cold clarinet will make some moisture) comes
>out way
>down from the end of the instrument, but if there is a long piece of music you
>still need to swab it in between. Some more method for you to-morrow, my
>darling is yaling me to go.
>
>Wayne
>
>Jonathan Smith wrote:
>
>> about swabbing your clarinet in public, I recommend the artist do it and
>> make a neat little show of it. My mother went to a concert and all she
>> talked about was how nifty it was to see the clarinetist take his instrument
>> apart and "pull this cloth through it" in between passages. She especially
>> thought he was cool because he could do this while everyone else was
>> playing, and with professional aplomb.
>>
>> Someone else mentioned a clarinetist who timed his swabbing so he just
>> barely got it back together in time to play, but didn't ever look rushed.
>>
>> Anyway, people are watching, not just listening, and are probably fairly
>> bored if nothing interesting is happening. At least with an orchestra they
>> can watch the violin bows go up and down! Maybe that's why they like
>> conductors.
>>
>> I think this action should be rehearsed along with the playing as part of
>> the show. But, please, keep it tasteful. No picking up the instrument and
>> blowing out the tone holes.
>>
>> Jonathan Smith
>>
>> jonathan@-----.com

Cheers,

Leo

"You Take The High Notes" http://helius.carroll.com/p/leo_g/ My music
collection for sale and auction. Enjoy secure private transactions via PGP
when purchasing with your VISA or MASTERCARD card. PGP Public Key Available
Upon Request.
Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.2 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org