 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-10 16:01
Having just read a comment about fitting a solenoid operated key to an alto clarinet, have any inroads been made in woodwinds and electrically driven keywork?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-09-10 16:02)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-10 16:26
There is that, but one played by a person (with switches replacing key touches to cut down on the amount of mechanism) rather than by a robot.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-09-10 16:56
There is a video of a wind instrument repairer together with someone who knows about electronics, maybe computers, etc. making a joystick for someone with a physical problem to play tuba. He operated with the joystick instead of the pistons. I think it was in America. I don't think the video is on YouTube and I can't find it. If I can find the link I'll post.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-09-10 17:29
yes but can it assemble the clarinet without bending keys and fit the reed without mashing the tip?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-09-10 18:41
Some 30/35 years ago I visited the home of Prof Giles Brindley and saw and heard him perfoming in bassoon duets, he playing his handmade "logical bassoon" and my colleague his own handmade Heckel system bassoon.
The Logical Bassoon's keywork was operated entirely by solenoids controlled by a simple diode computer and (if my memory serves me correctly) an almost piano like touch keyboard, it even incorporated a heater wire so that it's pitch could be adjusted slightly at the turn of a dial!!
To ease its design/manufacture it actually had a square format bore i.e. pyramidal rather than conical.
It was played with a standard bassoon crook amd reed and the amazing thing was that it's sound was virtually indistiguisable from the "Heckel system model.
This instrument was played in a BBC broadcast by the well known British performer William (Bill) Waterhouse, a close colleague of Gervaise de Peyer. In his hands the speed possible was amazing but ultimately perhaps that was it's downfall since everyone knows a bassoon cannot possibly play that fast.
Several years ago Peter Eaton suggested I might like to be involved in developing solenoid actuation as a method for operating the lowest keys of the bassett clarinet. However after spending 30 years in the computer industry I was only too happy to work with the good old technology I have played for 50+ years and felt no inclination to return to the world of electronics.
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Author: donald
Date: 2009-09-10 20:52
I have often wondered if it might be possible to design a "multiple register vent" system that was electronically controlled- rather than the result of a complicated and heavy mechanism. Jack Brymer suggested somewhere the use of camera shutter type mechanism, and I can imagine this opening and shutting different (sized and placed) register holes for... say.... mid line B to D... E to G... A to C... in the upper register.
It's fairly easy to imagine the downsides, but this would certainly help with response and intonation.
dn
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Author: xarkon
Date: 2009-09-11 04:26
Something has been done in electronic keywork and flute - but at the moment I'm having a hard time locating the reference and the manufacturer. I seem to remember it being discussed a few years ago on the klarinet listserv.
If I get any bright ideas regarding search terms and uncover this, I'll put up another post.
Dave
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-11 09:17
The Logical bassoon was also what I had in mind with a clarinet (any size clarinet at that) - not the square bore, but with electonically driven keys that enabled the use of a more logical fingering system - perhaps the same fingering for every register - that would enable the player ease of playing, less worry about the fingerings and more concentration on the music that's produced.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-09-11 10:30
Chris P wrote:
> The Logical bassoon was also what I had in mind with a clarinet
Like "fly-by-wire" (as in the Airbus 320 or the F-16 fighter jet) for woodwinds. Perhaps you could call it "play-by-wire."
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-09-12 01:12
Chris P: as a one-time pilot I find that video gruesome to say the least. I've never trusted fully automatic systems, they're only as good as the dumbest programmer on the development team, and I've known some dumb ones. One wonders why if the plane didn't need a crew they had to waste the lives of an aircrew by having them on board?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-12 10:03
Since seeing that on the news back in 1988, everytime I hear Airbus 320 mentioned I'm reminded of that very footage. To add further insult to the crew, the word 'unmanned' was written on the tail.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-09-14 15:35
Chris; very sad. judging by recent news about the A320 series they haven't got all teh bugs out yet......oh well it's only been 21 years...
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-09-15 04:16
Found it. hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ_qLzEq_LI Not a tuba but a ephonium, handicap kid plays it with a joystick.
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