Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 2001/11
From: MVinquist@-----.com Subj: [kl] Dutch Rush Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2001 17:36:07 -0500
Dutch rush (a/k/a horsetail rush) grows wild all over Interlochen. Keith
Stein, who taught there for many years, showed me where to find it when I
studied there with him. I think one reason he recommended using rush in The
Art of Clarinet Playing is that it was so easy to get, and he didn't want to
tell people in a book to use a razor-sharp knife.
Rush is fine for blending things together and putting a final finish on the
vamp, but I find it hard to control, and a small piece of well-worn 400
sandpaper works even better. For finer adjustments, I always use a knife.
Rush is often used in the fancier sort of flower arrangements. High-class
florists usually have it, and they will usually give you a stalk or sell it
cheap.
Pull the rush apart into sections, cut off the ends with a cheap kitchen
knife or scissors (the sand embedded in the rush will ruin anything
expensive), flatten it out, put it between sheets of newspaper and put it
under several large books to dry for a couple of weeks. Do *not* wrap it in
plastic to dry, or it will mildew.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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