 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-06-02 07:29
Gday,
I'm doing a thesis on reed making for the clarinet and was wondering if there are any good books or theses on the subject that anyone could recomend - esp on the initial steps of reed making rather than reed refining. Went to the library the other day and got a couple of books and theses out:
The Early Clarinet - A Practical Guide - C. Lawson
A History of the Clarinet to 1820 - A. R. Rice
The Clarinet - F. G. Rendall
Clarinet and Saxophone Experience - S. Richmond
Clarinet Acoustics - O. L. Gibson
Reed Mastery - K. S. Jaffrey
The Reed Mate Reed Guide - G. T. Kirck
Clarinet Reeds - Definitive instruction in an Elusive Art - C. Steir and C. Mansfield
Any other books that can be recomended with even just small amounts of info, esp about Arundo Donax wood, and anything on the history of reed making ie. before 1900 and also on chalumeau reeds etc. would be greatly appreciated. I also have access to quite a few different journal articles like The Clarinet, The Instrumentallist, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America etc.
Thankyou,
Jonathan Farquhar
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Author: Richard Bush
Date: 2001-06-03 02:34
Jonathan,
An older book, possibly out of print, is William Stubbins' book, "The Art of Clarinetistry." Don't have it in front of me, but I think it was printed by Anarbor Press, of the University of Michigan, where he was the main clarinet prof for many years.
There's also a fellow in Vegas that has lots of clarinet books for sale. Several deal with reed making and/or reed finishing.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-03 02:48
Just out --- "Making & Adjusting Clarinet Reeds" by Glenn H. Bowen. Believe it is available from Luyben and the pauthor/publisher. Was reported on in ICA's The Clarinet, June, 2001 issue just out. There is also Tom Ridenour's book ("Educator's Guide" ?), too, which devotes a chapter or so to reeds.
I have been told that Kalman Opperman's Reed Making book is till still available, but haven't seen it anywhere? I'll check with Gary Van Cott the next chance I get.
Thoughts anyone?
Best,
mw
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-06-03 03:05
Richard Bush wrote:
>
> Jonathan,
>
> An older book, possibly out of print, is William Stubbins'
> book, "The Art of Clarinetistry." Don't have it in front of me,
> but I think it was printed by Anarbor Press, of the University
> of Michigan, where he was the main clarinet prof for many years.
It <i>was</i> printed by Ann Arbor Press, but the rights are now owned by Piansano Press. See http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Resources/Retail.html for the address of Piansano.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-06-03 03:08
Whoops - my mistake. These books are on reed refining rather than reed construction.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-03 19:08
Isn't reed refining or adjusting a PART of reedmaking. Physical characteriistics or issues we deal with in refining/adjusting Reeds teach us more about the parts of the Reed, which in turn should enable us to make a better reed ... if that was our (sole) aim.
Best,
mw
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-03 19:11
e.g. doesn't Tom Ridenour's chapter on Reed Adjustment in the "Educator's Guide .... " ultimately reach us the importance of a well-balanced reed (or a reed balanced to the mouthpiece it will be playing!)
Best,
mw
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-06-11 18:00
Jonathan -
Kalmen Opperman told me that his book on reedmaking is due to be reissued "real soon now." When that will be is anyone's guess, but at least it's in the works. It shows you how to start from tube cane, if you like, or from blanks. I tried to learn from the Opperman book several times and failed miserably. Then I took a few reedmaking lessons from him and got the hang of it. In addition to what he shows you in the book, the main thing is keeping a smooth taper from the shoulder all the way to the tip, particularly along the edges.
I have the other books you mention, except for the Richmond and the Steier. None of them discusses starting from scratch, and from its title, it's unlikely that the Richmond book does so.
The Jaffrey has some good ideas, mixed with loopy ones like soaking the reed in eucalyptus oil mixed with wood alcohol.
Good luck. Take some lessons. It will speed the learning process immeasureably.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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