Klarinet Archive - Posting 001032.txt from 2000/03

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed's mode of vibration
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 10:02:31 -0500

On Fri, 31 Mar 2000 07:22:30 -0500, bhausman@-----.com said:

> If I read this correctly, what you are saying is that it is possible
> to create special effects by setting up so the reed does not close.
> This results in something OTHER THAN a standard clarinet tone. That
> is all well and good, but I'm sure the thrust of the study was to
> determine what happens under NORMAL conditions. And observed
> experimental data beats theory every time.

What is 'normal' or 'standard' depends very much on your point of view.
Different people choose different setups that have the reed close
completely for more or less of the time. I outlined the two extremes,
but obviously there is a spectrum of possibilities, achievable by
varying the parameters of mouthpiece facing, reed strength, embouchure
position and quality, tongue position and so on.

What is 'normal' also depends on which note you happen to be playing in
a given passage, and whether you want that note to have the quality of
complete reed closure. As I've remarked here before, the notion that a
good player plays with just one sound in even quite a simple sequence of
notes is an illusion. It's the sort of illusion that makes you think
that there is such a thing as the 'sound' of your own voice. (Just say
a few words very slowly to yourself, if you don't believe this.) A
clarinet has nothing like this degree of tonal variation, but excursions
into what I called 'echoton' occur more frequently than you might
imagine, particularly in soft passages.

I'd be willing to agree with you that *in general* one should have
available the sort of sound that is associated with complete reed
closure. But that that has to happen *always* in 'normal' playing is a
much stronger statement.

Your 'observed experimental data' belongs to a highly artificial setup,
don't forget, very far from the NORMAL that you capitalise above.

If you want to pursue it, see Jonathan Cohler's response under another
subject heading. I think he outlines the situation quite succinctly.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE www.gmn.com/artists/welcome.asp
tel/fax 01865 553339

---------------------------------------------------------------------
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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org