Klarinet Archive - Posting 000616.txt from 2004/07

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Material influence on sound...one more timei
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 13:42:24 -0400

I grant that there is not universal agreement on the matter of
the effect of materials on the character of sound. And I know
well what Bowen and Fobes say. But I argue that anyone who states
unequivocally that sound comes entirely from the material (which
was the snotty posting to which I was replying) needs their head
examined.

I, like most people, do not react well to a sarcastic and
insulting directive. There you have a man who does not even know
that there is an issue involved, presuming that his own limited
experience constitutes knowledge, learning, and expertise.

Insofar as this preponderance of evidence that you cite, as far
as I know, the only really objective analysis on the subject is
that of Benade and he is, unfortunately, unable to join the fray
of this discussion. What Clark says is that "after 20 years of
experience in working with materials, I think that ..." To which
I respond that "after 60 years of experience playing, I think
that ..."

Also consider the matter that I was discussing. Sue suggested
that her hard rubber clarinet sounded almost as good as a wooden
one. How much is "almost as good"? 92%? 83? I suggest that in
any live test, no one could discover any difference whatsoever.
And in the final analysis, the fact is that no one can discern a
difference in sound character based on the medium.

So let us not argue this one again to no conclusion.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

-----Original Message-----
From: GrabnerWG@-----.com]
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 10:12 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] Material influence on sound...one more timei

In a message dated 7/16/2004 7:28:16 AM Central Daylight Time,
dnleeson@-----.net writes:
You could not have missed the almost
continual discussion on this list about the sound of a clarinet
being effectively independent of the material from which it is
made
Dan, we have had intermittent discussion on this topic in the
past. However,
that discussion has not be as conclusive as you imply. Please see
the
following post from Keith Bowen:

http://www.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2003/09/000581.txt

In this post are contained observations from Arthur Benade, Steve
Fox, and
Clark Fobes.

In the following post, Clark Fobes discusses the effect of
material on tone,
based on his work of 20 years with materials for barrels:

http://www.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1994/05/000025.txt

I quote Fobes "My conclusions from doing this work for about 10
years is that
the material
does effect the sound of the instrument, but that bore design and
wall
thickness have a much greater effect."

I also have in my possession writings of Arthur Benade explaining
WHY
different materials affect tone quality.

All due respect, but there is considerable
opinion/evidence/observation
(Benade, Fobes, Fox) which disagrees with what you have stated.

Another phenomenon are the barrels and bells produced by Morrie
Backun, which
people are buying rapidly. His claim is that the different
materials used
alter and enhance tone quality. See the article in the current
issue of "The
Clarinet."

Walter Grabner
http://www.clarinetxpress.com/
World-class clarinet mouthpieces

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