The cost of clarinet reeds during Mozart’s lifetime
What do you think the price of a clarinet reed was in the 18th century?
You might be surprised to learn that the price of clarinet reeds has remain virtually the same since the 1700s!
Longtime readers know I love learning about clarinet history, and I’ve recently been fascinated by clarinet reed history.
While rereading Rendall’s The Clarinet, I came upon a passage that sparked my curiosity: “In the 18th century, if many players preferred to make their own, commercial reeds nevertheless were obtainable…Churchwardens’ accounts, too, show constant purchases of reeds for church bands at prices of three-pence and fourpence apiece for the clarinet and of one shilling for the bassoon.”
After consulting a few currency converters, here’s the price in today’s money:
- 3 to 4 pence in 1750 (mid-18th century) adjusted for inflation is about £3 to £5 today ($3.75-$5.00 USD or €3.50 to €4.65)
Multiply this cost (choose your preferred currency) times 10 to find the cost of a box of clarinet reeds, and you’ll see that the price of reeds hasn’t drastically changed in the past 275 years!
It’s fascinating to see that despite centuries of change, the price of clarinet reeds has remained remarkably consistent, proving that some things really do stand the test of time!
Happy practicing!