Good question. Interestingly, no two reeds sound the same in any given chanter. What’s more interesting is that, in chanters believed to be nearly practically identical, the same reed will sound very differently. I’ve hard it mentioned that it is 90% reed and 10% chanter but believe this formula omits the most important part…the player. No two people get the same identical tone ouf of a chanter. Take Benedict Koehler for example,the man can make the worst reed and chanter combo sing like a songbird. In my own opinion, it does not matter how good the reed is, a poor chanter is just that and it will never be able to achieve that elusive tonal quality we all strive for. On the other hand, a great chanter, especially in the hands of a great player, need not have the perfect reed. Kevin Rowsome is an example of someone who can coax great music out of inferior reeds. Of course, climate plays a role in this as well…one day they sing…the next they squalk. The main point is that it is more than just chanters and reeds. Glandman
Hey Lewis,
I’ll be in St Louis the weekend of the Tionol, I’m talking at the St. Louis Gyn. Society meeting. If time permits, I’d like to get to some of the tionol events too.
Jeff