Doublereed Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 2003/10

From: Rhondda May <rmay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] (ob) Dark vs Bright sound vs decibel perception
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 10:10:11 -0400

Hi,

It might be that a "bright" sound is perceived as louder because what I
think one hears that one calls "bright" is the higher partials. I
definitely think that a "dark" tone has more fundamental than overtones.

IMHO, a perfect sound is a perfect blend of fundamental and
overtones....
(kind of like coffee)
Rhondda

Sameer Al-Abdullah wrote:
>
> 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
>
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