Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2014-10-11 06:20
In "How Music Works" by John Powell, the author states that the reed on a clarinet moves to rapidly close and open the gap between the reed and the mouthpiece, so that air flow through the opening is alternately blocked and unblocked, and that action is the exciter of the vibrations of the sounds made. This is what I have heard and read elsewhere, so I am happy to believe it.
However, reading this tonight suddenly gave rise to the realization that I would also be happy not to believe it, and to believe instead that the reed tip just vibrates back and forth in air, and that whilst playing, the air flow through the tip opening is continual, albeit changing with the vibration. When I sound a tone, I really don't think the end of the reed touches the mouthpiece; it would take additional pressure from me to make that happen.
Or maybe I'm doing it all wrong.
My little doubt aside, Powell's book is not only ingenious at simple explanations for things, it's very witty. I'm enjoying it.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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