 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2014-06-16 00:50
I have occasionally bought shaped oboe cane with wider shapes, but have been completely stumped as to how to make in-tune reeds with such stuff. I recently purchased some shaped EH cane from a major house that was a mm wider than what I had been using, and the result is easily a quarter-step flat or more.
Obviously, some people can make reeds that play in tune with such cane, so there must be a way. I'm not determined to master such an art, (I can always just go back to my narrower shapes) but I think it would be good if I knew something about the general strategies for working with such shapes. At least it would allow me to make some educational use of the 9 pieces of wide EH cane I have left.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: darryoboe
Date: 2014-06-16 05:21
I had some "too-wide" EH cane a couple of weeks ago so I narrowed it a bit with 400# sandpaper before tying the reeds. It worked out well. I got several nice reeds.
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-06-16 07:00
I tend to make my scrape shorter, and the areas within it in proportion to the shorter scrape (i.e. shorter tip, shorter heart, etc). This is for a short scrape reed, but I have heard that long scrape tends to be similar when dealing with wider shapes.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2014-06-16 18:59
Thanks for posting the link.
It was very interesting and informative.
I am presently working with a slightly wider shape due to using a shaper machine. My reeds are shorter and my embouchure feels slightly different. With the narrower shape the reed feels more cushioned in the center of my lips and the embouchure feels more relaxed. With the wider shape the reeds lay across more of my lips - which feels more like a sandwich.
The trick to get the reed to vibrate and maintain good focus and maintain pitch.
I agree - the greatest challenge in finding a balance between a "covered" and more lively sweet sound; especially in the upper registers.
I found the upper registers more alive with a narrower shape.
I use a very fine grit emery board to make very very subtle adjustments to the width of the reed. I also use a different tie point now. It helps to bring the pitch up.
Mark
Post Edited (2014-06-16 20:17)
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Author: Oboelips
Date: 2014-06-16 22:08
I use wider shapes all the time. The narrowest shape that I have for oboe is Brannen X. My other shapes are wider--they are old Wally Bhosys shapers.
I make a longer reed. My reeds are usually a bit longer than the normal 72. The tips are short, and very thin. The spine still has bark on it. Long scrape, but No windows. These are not economical, easy-blow reeds. But the sound is worth it. I start out with a thinner gouge than many--right around .56 to .54, sides at .45 or so. I create the tip, then do 3-4 even strokes on each quadrant, and blend in the corners. The "blend" has the bark just barely removed.
These reeds take some air to move them. You have to get your lungs full, not just a "conversational breath".
My pitch is A-440, but the reed crows a B. My G's are a little hot, but I like them that way.
I use a Ghys (what I have left of it) or Glotin cane most often. Some other types, (like Rigotti) don't work well for me.
I learned to make these reeds from my teacher, a Harold Gomberg student, and have found that narrow shapes buzz like a mosquito in a jar for me.
Hope this helps.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2014-06-16 22:29
Quote:
With the narrower shape the reed feels more cushioned in the center of my lips and the embouchure feels more relaxed.
Yes, the reed feels more cushioned in the center, and my lips tend to pucker a bit more to play closer to the tip while pulling away to let the reed vibrate more.
Quote:
The trick to get the reed to vibrate and maintain good focus and maintain pitch.
Yes, the other thing I didn't mention in the blog post is air and strength.
If you're going to play a wider reed, it's just going to be a bigger reed in general. It's going to happen, and you can't get around it. You need to be willing to play a bigger reed, and be strong enough in the mouth to handle one. Maybe at times you'll need slightly more compression (i.e. squeezing) but not necessarily to the point of biting.
The other thing you need to be willing to do which is even more important is to really blow, and blow hard, and blow a lot. There's just going to be more surface area that needs to vibrate, and it will require more air for you to get all of the blades to vibrate. I've experimented for 15 years and I simply see no other way around this fact.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2014-06-17 03:13
Quote:
"The other thing you need to be willing to do which is even more important is to really blow, and blow hard, and blow a lot. There's just going to be more surface area that needs to vibrate, and it will require more air for you to get all of the blades to vibrate."
Absolutely! A wider reed requires much more breath and support. I am able to play much longer passages on one breath with a narrower shape~!
Mark
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-06-17 16:22
@cooper,
I loved your post. I think that you are right - it is not that you were louder with the Weber -1B. The narrower shape gives the tone more focus, something like a bright white torch being more visible than one with warmer, yellow light.
From the listener's perspective, if I can hear and identify the oboe it must be loud, right? Nope! The additional focus makes it stand out against the crowd.
I applaud your decision to choose a tonal quality that blends rather than one that shines, a sign of a true musician who is subservient to the music, not the other way round.
J.
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2014-06-18 09:16
Well, this has all been very helpful and confirms what I suspected--wider shapes are not for me! As an aging amateur I just don't play enough, and am not in good enough shape, to enjoy playing something that requires a lot of lip strength and air pressure. I do play for enjoyment, not money. People don't run away when I play my narrow reeds, so I think I will stick with them....
Edit: Heh. Ambiguous antecedent. Yes, I will stick with them, both the reeds and the people.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
Post Edited (2014-06-18 09:17)
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