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Re: reed 1st aid for black mould

Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-06-19 04:09

Mary,

This may seem hard to believe, but in the late '70s' there was a notion that intentionally molding cane might help it play better.

I lived in a cabin int the woods then and strung together a bunch of tube cane, hung it in trees and watered it now and then over the summer and allowed it to mold over the course of the summer. 1/2 the crop and the other 1/2 I kept dry.

Seriously, and I know it sounds insane.

This link includes one piece I played on that same molded cane last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TlZsl7Gs0

I kid you not.

The black mold appeared and it disappeared during the gouging process and never showed up on the finished reeds.

Believe me I realize the risks of mold in the system or lungs now and would never do that again, but I still have a couple hundred pieces of that cane.

Methinks I shall soak it in hydrogen peroxide or at least a fairly strong concentration of chlorine and water.

Ok, so the real punch line: If soaking cane in dog pee would improve the reed's playing or longevity, 99% of oboists would willingly do it.

And again, I kid you not! (And if you disagree, I'd argue you are really a clarinet player at heart..:)

-Craig

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