Do it yourself

At first glance, the landscape format of this book is confusing - is it a picture book? And then someone writes a construction manual for clarinet and saxophone reeds, when today more and more musicians are switching to plastic reeds!

The clarinet reed - The saxophone reed - Building instructions by Hanstoni Kaufmann, the sequel to his first book Correct clarinet reeds, is indeed a picture book - but also much more! Illustrated with wonderful photographs, it explains everything to do with cane, from cultivation, extraction, storage, preparation and selection to material science. This is followed by instructions on how the author produces ready-to-play reeds in twelve steps using his method, which has been tried and tested and further developed over many years. All steps are described in detail and richly illustrated so that they can be followed independently. At the end of the practice-oriented book there is an overview of the materials required, including sources of supply for cane and tools. Hanstoni Kaufmann has recorded his knowledge and findings from years of experience in a detailed and inspiring manner.

This book is highly recommended to all clarinettists and saxophonists - whether they make their own reeds or just want to learn more about this important element of the instrument. And also to players of plastic reeds. - The fantastic pictures of the natural material and the craftsmanship may encourage them to return to the natural product ...

Hanstoni Kaufmann: Das Klarinettenblatt - Das Saxophonblatt - Bauanleitung, 87 p., Fr. 41.00, Finkenkruger Musikverlag, Falkensee 2017, ISBN 978-3-9815965-3-3, mhtk@bluewin.ch