Klarinet Archive - Posting 000359.txt from 2005/01

From: "Rommel John Miller" <rjmiller@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ligatures--Important?
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 18:42:27 -0500

All of this talk about tying ligatures reminds me of my sailing days.

Is anyone here familiar with the term "whippng" as used at the ends of line?

It seems to me that since the Germans were always fond of their Navy and
liked the idea of sailing that many German wannabes wouldn't mind to using
the traditional tyed whipping to lash-on a reed to the mouthpiece.

The manner of whipping as done in the sailing (without a the use of a fid or
needle) involves a system similar to that given by Arnold Wendl at
www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Uploads/strnglig.html

But where the tucking of the last loop and the remainder of the "core" line
is shown, a method of proper nautical whipping would remedy the fact that NO
loose ends would show (necessarily) and the winding itself would never come
undone (if done properly) until it was cut off.

I used a nice 100% cotton cord (of about the same diameter shown on the
webapge above) to replace the old rotten corks on a Tenor recorder. The
thickness of the cord was perfect to form an air-tight seal and when
properly oiled and greased the cord will last a good long time. The Tenor
recorder of which I write was last wrapped by me in the mid-1980's and only
recently did I have to replace the wrapping.

A nice thing to obtain in this matter is waxed cordage or thread.
Bookbinders use waxed cord or thread to bind the signatures of books, and as
I am a bookbinder by avocation, I have this type of cord and use it for all
sorts of things, from instrument repair to repairing the re-enactment
equipment I own.

I put forth therefore, that the same manner of whipping could be used for
the German Ligature. And the only real draw-back is the fact that waxed
cordage usually is available only in white. But this would be no real
aesthetical difference insomuch as many ligatures are silver in fabrication
and color, and many mouthpieces can be had that are not ebony or black in
color. It would be then a matter of personal preference and taste.

If anyone does not know of what I am speaking about please let me know and I
will be glad to send you a scan of a page from an old manual which shows
simple line whipping.

Thanks, and take care,

Rommel John Miller
308 Dale Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21206-1219

410-668-4784

rjmiller@-----.net

"When you do things right,
people won't be sure
if you did anything at all."

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