 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2006-11-26 02:58
Wow, I think it has been a year and a half since the last time I posted. I have been very busy since coming to University.
Anyway, my question is about Bassoon reeds, although I think it's more of a general question about reeds. I am doing a project right now on Bassoon reeds for my music education course and I was talking about how when looking for a reed you should pick one that is more of a golden colour not green. Now, this is good in all except I can't remember why that is. Is it because the green cane is less mature?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-11-26 05:05
Since I'm colourblind I usually (99% of the time) can't tell if a reed is golden or green so I just use it regardless of its colour. MAybe another psychilogical problem I am (luckily?) able to ignore?!
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2006-11-26 08:29
Green in plants indicates the presence of chlorophyll. This could mean younger cane, or cane that is the same age, but not dried as long. Difference is usually also evident in the taste. I prefer drier cane as it is more stable for me.
-S
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Author: 2E
Date: 2006-11-27 08:15
dont judge a book by its cover!
doesnt matter what it looks like -
it matters what it sounds like :p
2E
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-11-28 11:45
>>doesnt matter what it looks like -
it matters what it sounds like >>
True. I've used a few reeds that looked *really* green. (No, I'm not working up to another disquisition on the subject of icky green slime...I mean cane that's green because it's aged less than average.) Those reeds played well for me *if* they had speckled bark and straight, even grain. I haven't noticed any difference in how long the green reeds lasted, but then I wouldn't notice unless there were a really big, obvious difference, because I play on too many different instruments with different types of reeds. I can't say with certainty how many hours I've put into any given reed.
Reeds with conspicuously wavy or uneven grain don't usually play well for me, no matter what the color of the cane, and they're more prone to splitting and chipping. If the reed looks very green *and* has wavy / uneven grain, and especially if there's more than one reed like that in the box, then I decide that factory has a quality control problem and I'm less inclined to buy that brand again.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-11-28 12:27
(Disclaimer- I am patent holder on Arundo Donax Musicalis genetic altered variant reed cane)
Reed cane cut too early in the Fall-Winter harvest season and not exposed to enough direct sunlight (which turns the greenish brown cane golden yellow) will result in greenish colored cane even a couple of years into aging. Cane harvested at the right time but exposed to too little direct sunlight (either intentionally or because of cloudy skies) too will have a greenish color tinge even after aging. The speckling on the bark has nothing to do with anything except that the culm covering was not stripped early enough in the drying process and a fungus grows and discolors the bark. I have no idea, other than aesthetic reasons, if the greenish color has any effect on finished reed quality or longevity. It may be an indicator of improper harvesting and drying but the major elements of cane quality such as cane density, proper aging, and cut are probably the most important factors.
L. Omar Henderson
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