Klarinet Archive - Posting 001122.txt from 1998/12

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] To Oboe or Not to Oboe....
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 22:21:01 -0500

On Tue, 29 Dec 1998, Mitch Bassman wrote:

> This leads to my question(s). A couple of years ago, there was a
> reference on this mailing list to playing the oboe (and bassoon) with
> a clarinet-style mouthpiece and single reed. I've never seen one. Has
> anyone on this list ever used such a crutch to double on oboe or
> bassoon? Are such mouthpieces still available anywhere. Is the
> resulting tone acceptable? Did such mouthpieces fall out of favor
> because the result was not acceptable to anyone? If so, why? It has
> also been stated on this list in past years that the physics of the
> oboe is equivalent to that of the soprano sax. Does the oboe with a
> single reed and mouthpiece simply sound too much like a soprano sax to
> satisfy the need for the oboe sound?

They do still exist, and are commercially available. The manufacturer, or
at least the principal manufacturer is Santy Runyon. I met him and saw
his single-reed oboe and bassoon mouthpieces on display a few years ago at
a National Association of Music Merchants trade show in Chicago.

I would say that you have put your finger on the problem in your question.
The instruments just did not sound sufficiently oboe-like or bassoon-like
to gain wide acceptance.

Another factor is the natural tendency of musicians, and people in
general, to favor what is tried-and-true and familiar.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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