Klarinet Archive - Posting 001114.txt from 2003/03

From: "Joseph H. Fasel" <jhf@-----.gov>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cylinders vs. Cones
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 12:47:55 -0500

To follow up on my own post, I've done a little research: It seems that,
at least broadly speaking, the medieval shawm (and presumably the middle-
eastern instruments on which it is based) does not overblow, while the
renaissance shawm and baroque oboe do.

On 2003.03.27 06:51 Joseph H. Fasel wrote:
> Alan,
>
> I have a renaissance shawm, and it does overblow, although there is no octave
> key. As I understand it, plenty of period music does call for the second octave.
>
> The shawm has a long history in several cultures as a folk instrument; maybe it's
> in some of this earlier histoy that it's considered a one-octave instrument. In
> particular, I recall reading that in some times and places the custom was to use
> a pirouette in which the reed was inserted as a lip support, rather than using
> an oboe-like embouchure around the blades of the reed. With the reed in this
> free-vibrating mode, the overblown notes are unuseable.
>
> Cheers,
> --Joe
>
> On 2003.03.27 05:16 Alan Woodcock wrote:
> > Yes, but I'm beginning to think that none of these instruments overblow,
> > except perhaps sporadically and tunelessly. Bagpipe chanters don't even
> > play more than one note.
> >
> > After posting my last reply I looked into Baines "Woodwind Instruments and
> > their History". I find
> >
> > a) the cylindrical, single-reed chalumeau (ancestor of clarinet) did not
> > overblow.
> > b) the conical, double-reed shawm (ancestor of oboe) did not overblow.
> > c) the cylindrical, double-reed cromorne did not overblow.
> > d) there was no conical, single-reed instrument. (or, I didn't find it...)
> >
> > By "overblow" I mean "in a musically useful fashion". You can excite even
> > a cromorne into a higher régime of oscillation (just touch one of the keys
> > to make a leak while covering all holes) but I don't think anybody could
> > play in this register.
> >
> > Since nothing overblew, people played music which did not require
> > overblowing, and were (in general) quite happy.

Joseph H. Fasel, Ph.D. email: jhf@-----.gov
Stockpile-Complex Modeling and Analysis phone: +1 505 667 7158
University of California fax: +1 505 667 2960
Los Alamos National Laboratory post: D-2 MS F609; Los Alamos, NM 87545

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