 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2005-01-04 14:45
OhSusan...you've hit my soft spot...this is a topic on which I was repeatedly told to make a good sounding reed over a functioning one, in college. I was always a heated debate in reed classes but there is a bit of logic behind things:
-The reed only sounds as good as it works-!!!!!!
If your reed doesn't respond then it will obviously not sound good.
If your reed isn't in tune, then forget it.
The whole point of a reed (really!) is that it lets you make sound and play your instrument. So why do some people build reeds that "sound good" by sacrificing response, pitch, stability, or all? Illogical.
Here are some things I have heard:
"Sometimes if I'm not playing in the low register a lot, I'll sacrifice response to keep good tone in the high register"
"It's easier to make reeds according to their tone than to their function"
"Leave more wood in your tip to keep your openings bigger and have a darker sound"
" (D-oboe) scrape your back down, your reed isn't dark enough."
It was really difficult to argue with these topics: the players who had these ideas were senior to me in college!
Anyways, my absolute order of playing qualities are:
1. Response (crucial)
2. Pitch (crucial)
3. Stability
4. Dynamic Range
5. "Size" (determining whether the reed is good for orchestra or better for chamber)
Notice that tone is not on that list, because personally I get my tone from my body, not from my reeds. If my reeds are working according to the above factors, then I can achieve the tone I desire.
RESPONSE AND PITCH!
OhSusan: you're on the right track. Preferring reeds to their responsiveness and stability...*ah* this is music (hopefully! ) to my ears!
D
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ohsuzan |
2005-01-04 14:15 |
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d-oboe |
2005-01-04 14:45 |
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