by Fernando Ruiz
How does such a crazy idea come to make wooden mouthpieces?
It's somethi
ng as simple as looking at each instrument's past, further back than the bronze age and the use of metals. Wood, all parts of a tree, has historically been the most common construction material, from building a house to creating art. When we talk about wind instruments (such as the horn), one of the less obvious aspects, but profoundly influential, is the mouthpiece.
Most brass players use metal mouthpieces. Wooden ones are rare, but they are still used, not only for visual appeal, but also for the unique qualities they offer in terms of sound. High-quality woods were chosen for hand-carved wooden mouthpieces. The most common woods used are walnut and maple since they offer perfect hardness and durability. One of the instruments that is a great example of this is the alphorn, which in the 21st century continues to be built in wood and played with a specifically-designed wooden mouthpiece.
It is also true today that there are more materials to make both parts, instrument and mouthpiece, such as carbon fiber and plastic, but these do not offer that unique sound quality that wood can offer.
As technologies developed, humans achieved effective tools for shaping metal, leaving behind the use of wood and bringing about incredible evolution to instruments and, thereby, to music.
But again, curiosity arises, and in the desire to innovate, we ask ourselves, “Why not combine wood with current technology?”
The choice of mouthpiece has great importance in the way the sound of the instrument projects. Having studied mouthpieces for years, I have discovered that wood has important advantages for those looking for a warmer tone and softness; everything will depend on the wood selected. These mouthpieces give the player particular sensations that are different from other materials. An important issue is comfort—for example, not feeling the cold metal as we initiate sound or after a long pause has no comparison.
The type of wood used directly influences the quality of sound and the level of comfort. In Part 2, we will look at some of the most common woods used in manufacture of horn mouthpieces, although in the course of the time, I have discovered that certain woods (such as palo de serpiente or zebrano) stand out for their sound characteristics. When final test results are available, I will let you know.
