Klarinet Archive - Posting 000781.txt from 2003/02

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece pitch by itself
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 15:36:17 -0500

On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 19:44:40 -0800 (PST), b1rite@-----.net said:

> ... is there a 'published' mouthpiece pitch to which all mouthpiece
> manufacturers strive to conform which corresponds to A=440 for the
> entire instrument?
>
> Thank you,
> Bill <who thinks that he's asking a reasonable question>

Sorry, Bill. I couldn't resist:-)

I'm not a mouthpiece maker, or even expert, but I'm sure the answer is,
'no'. They don't think of it that way, I'd say. Mouthpiece design is
to do with fiddling with the bore modifications that deal with the
tuning relationships between the first, second and third registers
(primarily, actually, between the second and third registers, because
the bore modifications that deal with the relationship between the
first and second occur lower down the instrument). As I understand it,
it's a compromise that has been achieved historically in two basic ways,
resulting in conical and cylindrical bore mouthpieces, corresponding to
two designs of instrument that they match.

But that's just a crude description. I'm sure Clark and Walter and
others will roll their eyes:-)

I really must have a talk to my tagline generator about its behaviour.

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

... You look like shit. Is that the style now?

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