Klarinet Archive - Posting 000637.txt from 2003/04

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Different sorts of authority, and the 'barrell'.
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:39:33 -0400

On Thu, 17 Apr 2003 10:06:52 -0700 (PDT), b1rite@-----.net said:

> Here are two things that I have tried --- neither of them being
> 'spheroidal' because I'm still getting my feet wet with 'normal'
> shapes. Comments are welcome, if anyone wishes to reply:
>
> (1) I have built several 'forward cones' and several 'reverse cones'.
> Metaphors always fail, but to me, the two shapes have different sound
> characters. The forward cones (so far) have all sounded more "open"
> or "big" or less "focused"/"centered", and they emphasize the lower
> partials (or perhaps they create more resonance of lower partials?)

My comment is, nobody cares. It won't play in tune, so shut up about
it. (With the greatest possible respect, of course.)

> My dimensions and hence intonations are --- unavoidably at the moment
> --- sloppy.

No, it's that what you're doing won't ever play in tune; so shut up
about it. (With the greatest possible respect, of course.)

> Perhaps, as you say, it will prove impossible to bring the intonation
> into line with the shapes that I'm trying.

Yes, it will prove impossible, so shut up about it. (With the greatest
possible respect, of course.)

> ... but generally speaking, replacing a narrow bore with a wider bore
> and then making up the increase of total volume with a ring seems to
> provide the more "open" sound that I want.

So what? Since when do we care what sound you want?

And, it won't play in tune, so shut up about it. (With the greatest
possible respect, of course.)

> > The *vibration* of the barrel is another thing. That would have
> > little effect on intonation, but might well impact the sound, as
> > Keith Bowen was posting recently. I suspect that this effect
> > explains why different barrels of seemingly identical dimensions
> > have different playing characteristics, and also why we seem to find
> > it difficult to reproduce those characteristics reliably.

> I suppose the thought is: "The vibrational energy is more intense
> in the barrel as opposed to lower down in the instrument, where it
> spreads out. Therefore energy absorption/radiation may play a role in
> the barrel, whereas it does not lower down."

No, the thought is nothing like that.

> Also, don't forget that many weekend painters enjoy sitting out in a
> field and painting landscapes without any hope of hanging on display.

What you're doing is rather more like posting to a mailing list about
painting, and going on and on about how you prefer a sort of paint that
doesn't actually stick to the canvas.

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

... Happiness is finding special characters...

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