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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000002.txt from 2003/10
From: "Sameer Al-Abdullah" <simsim29@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] (ob) Dark vs Bright sound vs decibel perception
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 18:42:40 -0400
Mike,
I'm so glad that someone else other than thinks the same way in regards to bright and dark oboe sound. I grew up listening to the French bright sound. Most musicians here in Kuwait whome I played some pieces on a dark reeds wasnt sure if it was an oboe that i was playing or something else!! When you say oboe everyone here (in Kuwait) thinks of the word "Nasal"!!
I really think that bright (but not too bright though) is a real oboe sound as the quality of that brightness gives the oboe its own unique personality i think.
I used ot play on dark reeds before and I hated my oboe!! I rejected the sound and threw those reeds away. Especially when i was playing baroque music. Sorry guys but dark reeds just dont do hta kind of music justice!!!
Yet, i tried playing ensemable music or anything else non baroque and I thought i was too loud. I dont enjoy playing Schuman's Romances on bright reeds!
However, I have come across some great reeds. Something not too bright nor too dark!!! The mix is just great. I have a few reeds that sound bright but yet has some darkness in them. Of course depending on your skills and ability to produce a full colorful sound you can enjoy it more and play anything in any color.
When i first heard Heinz Holliger's bright sound I fell in love with it and insisted my reeds are made as bright. However, now i dont look it that way. I think that sound is a bit too thin for my ears!!
John Mack is another favorite of mine. Yet sometimes i think his sound is a bit too dark. Sometimes he sounds too velvety I keep thinking its Flute or something!!
I think and this is only my opinion, that Holy Gornik is just the perfect match!! 50 50!!! she has a bit of both. Listen to her work. I really think she delivers the best and most true sound of the oboe!!
regards
Sameer Al-Abdullah
