Came across this on a keywork search.
This device, once called an “echo key”, was invented by Arnold Dolmetsch for Recorders. It is used to sharpen a note when you wish to play softly. Is it practical for whistles? what’s your opinion?
http://www.dolmetsch.com/Lipkey.jpg
Thomas Hastay.
HOw does it work?
Dunno, but I bet Jerry Freeman could tweak one.
http://www.dolmetsch.com/ouraccessories.htm
"Dr. Carl Dolmetsch invented a number of devices to increase the dynamic possibilities and the range of the recorder. Two of them are still manufactured by Dolmetsch. The third, the tone projector, is no longer manufactured.
The lip key when operated slightly sharpens the recorder letting you play more quietly without going flat.
convenient and reliable, every time
increases recorder’s dynamic range
may be fitted retrospectively to any make
treble lip key shown on left [picture in Thomas-Hastay’s post]
A small hole is drilled behind the window of the recorder and sleeved with ivorine. The ivorine protrudes slightly into the head to prevent ‘flooding’ during use. When the key is opened (operated by the lower lip or chin) the recorder plays sharp. The player can then drop his pressure to correct this and so play more quietly without playing flat. This effect is particularly effective in large concert halls and recording studios."
Could something like that be used to drain clogging?
You have clogged drains?
No-- clogging occurs in the windway. The hole for this key is just past the fipple. Brass instruments do have something similar for draining accumulated moisture with the delightful name of “spit valve”…
Nice addition Cynth! But my question still remains unanswered.
“Is this feature practical for high end whistles?” Or is the low angled labium of most whistles able to “pitch bend” enough to make a lipkey redundant?
Smallparts sells a ‘permeable’ plastic. Water passes right through it. I’ve wondered if that would make a good self-draining fipple block material.
Well, I wouldn’t go for it if the water came out onto the outside of the whistle. I don’t know if water would make it slippery, but I wouldn’t like the feeling of wet fingers. Oh, I see you don’t mean the whole whistle.
Thank you. I’m so much of a beginner on the whistle I cannot answer the question. I was hoping to inspire some more advanced people to answer, but no luck so far.
That porous polyethylene? Interesting idea. I wonder how fast it wicks water, and what happens when it gets saturated. At $22+ for a 12" piece it’s pretty pricey. Allowing an inch or so to chuck in the lathe plus waste on each cut, I’d only get about 10 fipples out of it. And it only comes in white, which I’m not crazy about with most woods.
I wonder how useful it would be – this doesn’t seem to address any important whistle volume issues. In the abstract, the most important volume issue on the whistle is probably the imbalance of the first and second octaves. I suppose you could use this just on the upper octave to achieve a better balance, but it would only be effective if it had a fairly substantial impact on the volume.
As a tweak, you could drill a small hole in the same place on a cheap plastic mouthpiece and work it with your thumb.
– Scott
I don’t think the lipkey is a good solution (and that assumes that this is really a problem
that needs a solution aside from breath control). Pressing the lipkey will certainly affect your
embouchure. Since you will probably want to press this key for a long time (probably the
whole song, or at least large parts of a song), it would be better to use a springless slide
or something. You could slide it open for the quiet passages, or closed for the louder ones.
No lip needed. But it still seems that good breath control (or, in a pinch, the tuning slide)
would acheive the same end…