Klarinet Archive - Posting 000532.txt from 2001/08

From: "Patricia Spillane Smith" <pattiesmith@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] external vs. internal reeds; was Cane vs plastic (revisited) ..... Bagpipes
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 08:49:33 -0400

William Wright wrote:

....while everything in music comes down to opinion in the end,
this fellow had too many credentials to be dismissed casually. He has
manufactured and repaired bag pipes (war pipes) for many years, and the
write-up in the local Irish newspaper agreed that his work is sought by
serious pipers.

Patricia:

To bring this back on topic just a bit, (not that I am not interested; I am
actually)
IIRC, bagpipes have the reed itself enclosed in some sort of implement when
the piper is actually playing, do they not, and the air passes through the
chamber to create the sound? In an enclosed chamber, the reed would retain a
great deal more moisture and would not warp as quickly due to drying out,
etc. The reed also does not come into direct contact with the player's
mouth, IIRC. Also, the plastic reeds would have more consistent "insides"
and they would not react to the moisture within the chamber at all. That
would be my take on it.

In contrast, the clarinet reed is placed on the outside of the instrument,
on the "lay" of the mouthpiece. That makes the drying/moisture factor
concerning the reed and placing it on the mouthpiece, as well as that
combination and its IMMEDIATE interaction with the player's oral cavity
quite a bit more immediate in producing the sound, IMHO. (Dan Leeson,
Walter Grabner, and all of you others who are professionals at producing
mouthpieces and are much more "in the know" at the specifics, feel free to
correct my rather spotty descriptions concerning the exact language one
should use to describe how this all works)

Also, yes, bagpipes are certainly known for that characteristic sound. I
too find them quite beautiful when played by a master piper. I believe they
are difficult to play well, as is the clarinet. They take a great deal of
practice, and dedication. (I once knew a man who was learning how to pipe,
and learned a great deal from him about the construction of the bagpipes and
how beginners learn. He actually did most of his practice on a small
practice pipe.)

Anyway, I have gone on enough about this. Have a great day.

Patricia A. Smith
pattiesmith@-----.net

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