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Re: Oboe reed pictures

Author: oboedrew
Date: 2010-05-04 18:57

Alphons wrote:

> The strange thing is that no matter what brand of
> oboe you use as oboeplayer you will always end with
> the same kind of sound that is predestined in your
> fysic and cultural heritage. The only thing that in my
> opinion will differ is the amount of resistance and the
> stability needed by different brands.

Alphons, that's been my experience too. I've played several types of oboes over the years, but when I go back and listen to the recordings, I always just sound like myself. I have a definite idea of MY sound and have always made the necessary adjustments (mostly instinctively, sometimes intentionally) to get it.

When we play different oboes, sometimes we think we're HEARING differences when actually we're FEELING differences. Other times we think we hear differences because we EXPECT to hear them, perhaps because we've been told by teachers or famous players that we WILL hear them. Here in the US, legions of Loree players assert that "Yamaha oboes lack character." It's nonsense, of course. But you can't expect rich and colorful sounds from a company that makes motorcycles too, right? Behold, bias is born! Blind sound tests are the only way we can know for sure what we think of this or that oboe.

And I'm not convinced there's such a thing as a "Loree reed" or a "Marigaux reed." It's all subjective. In Mark's case, a Marigaux reed is whatever sort of reed gives him the sound he wants on his Marigaux. But Mark's Marigaux reed might be my Howarth reed, and my Marigaux reed might be Mark's Loree reed.

Anyway, of the factors contributing to tone, I find the player most important, the reed a close second, and the instrument a distant third.

Cheers,
Drew

www.oboedrew.com

Post Edited (2010-05-04 20:29)

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2009-04-12 00:30