Author: cjwright
Date: 2011-01-23 07:18
Goodwinds,
Without getting too technical, I'll just say that the shape of the bell is incredibly important, and can make an oboe feel entirely different. Effects that I've noticed include:
1. Can drastically change the tuning of middle D-F#. This is because of acoustical node points, one being close to the middle tenon, and another being in the bell. For technical information on nodes, start with wikipedia.
2. Can change the entire focus and resonance of an instrument. Thus, it can also affect the projection.
3. Can change the feeling of backpressure/free-blowing, and thus the responsiveness of the oboe.
The change of a bell can literally make your oboe feel like a completely different oboe. Tabuteau used to go to France every summer and bring back 5 Lorees. He would mix and match the top joints with the lower joints, but he always came back to the same bell. (Tabuteau would then sell the remaining Lorees to his students for a high mark up and take the money to Atlantic City, but that's a different story...)
Anyone who is skeptical about the effect of bells, I would strongly urge you to reserve any judgement until you are able to try a bunch of different bells. Next time you go to a rehearsal, or an oboe store with lots of oboes, just try swapping bells onto your oboe and notice the difference. Play them with a friend. Try them from different distances. Use different reeds. etc.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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