 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2000-04-19 03:10
To my well traveled and more knowledgeable friends - I will attending a convention in Montpellier, France in May and want to know if their might be any opportunities to see reeds being made. From a lot of the ads it looks like the cane comes from the Var Region, which appears on the map like it is in the same general area where I will be? The Region looks like it is northwest of Nice - is there really a Var Valley? Are there actually reed manufacturers in the area or is the cane harvested and sent to Newark (NJ) for processing? From my reading it appears as if our precious reeds actually come from a fast growing bamboo like weed found along river banks (that most people would rather not have growing in their back yard) in some mysterious place called the Var Valley. Why is wild cane better than cultivated cane (we have Kudzu here in Georgia but very few people cultivate it)? Any contacts? - Suggestions of areas or manufacturers to visit? Thanks!!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-04-19 19:51
In "Clarinet" by Jack Brymer pg 115 +, he refers to "discussion of reed making" as a "tortured" subject, but never-the-less he gives an excellent description, the most up-to-date I have readily available, saying that the Var region cane is prob. the best Arundo Donax. I'd suggest asking Gary Van Cott [perhaps he will add a post] about newer publications and cane-source-info. I have an old article [if I can find it] which made me wonder why France had the monopoly, our Gulf Coast should be similar!! Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-04-19 20:24
In "The Clarinet" pg 57 + [1956], Rendall devotes several pages to this region of France and, in the notes to the later edition, makes mention of cane grown in Cornwall and Bermuda, saying, in effect that "its hard to compete with an established industry". World-wide?? Happy visiting and research, Don
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Author: Denis
Date: 2000-04-20 05:54
Hello from France !
Hereafter are some sites to visit before coming to France. I think a search on the web could provide you with some others :
http://www.silvacane.com/indexus.htm
http://www.marca-france.com/
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/Reeds/MakeMyOwn.html :yes, even on sneezy !
http://www.oboe.org/donax.htm
Vandoren also use Var cane for its reeds.
Montpellier is 200 km from Var county, with a good motorway between, and so many things to visit !
Enjoy your visit in France
Denis
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Author: Royce
Date: 2000-04-20 18:48
I don't know about the Var, but I understand Arundo Donax is being cultivated commercially for reed-making somewhere in Northern California. Actually, A. Donax is a well-known "pest plant" all over California, with much effort devoted to its eradication along river and stream banks.
As I gaze out my window here in the California Wine Country, there's a considerable stand of reed cane growing along the riverbank. I've given thought occasionally to harvesting some, but guess I'm not *that* much of a do-it-yourselfer...
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-04-22 04:23
Royce,
I've noticed reed cane along some creek banks here in the Sacramento valley region too. Haven't tried using it for reed making - yet. It looks like an inviting thing to try though... when I have a little spare time someday. As far as I know it's free.
ron b.
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