Klarinet Archive - Posting 001097.txt from 2000/02

From: chi chan <lokshing@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bore:Oil_&_Moisture/r/Clarinettiquette Question
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 02:24:25 -0500

Dear Leo,

Thank you for the advice.
Another question, after playing the clarinet for a period of time, say, a few
months, then I hear all noise come from the keys especially the left hand B, C
sharp.. What can we do about it? (no use even replace the tiny paper inside the key
joint)

Wayne

Topper wrote:

> 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
>
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