Author: d-oboe
Date: 2005-12-23 05:25
You know, let's do away with Dark.
Dark and light are concepts that have to do with visual energy (ultimately coming from the sun.) This really has nothing to do with reeds, or sound. What are some things than *are* related to sound?
High pitch vs. low pitch
Resonant vs. less resonant (stuffy)
We could get into wavelengths and sines, but let's keep it simple. The above two considerations can be applied to all reed an playing styles. Most(professional) oboists have resonant tones and most have a pitch somewhere around 440, with the europeans going higher.
What makes the differences in sound, to our ears, is the shape of the reed, and the shape of the players mouth. The refinement of the reed does play a factor, but it more a result rather than a cause (I will explain this)
Americans tend to play with a narrower reed and thin tips, and an open mouth.
Germans tend to have wider reeds, play with the oboe higher, which means a more closed mouth, and thick tips. They also play further up onto the reed.
French move around a bit- their reeds are very flexible, and narrrow, and they keep a smaller cavity inside the mouth for that characteristic "bright" or vibrant, high-pitched sound.
The only real difference between the reeds is function. Each style is made to work well under the given conditions (embouchure use, oboe angle, etc)
A good oboe player could probably pick up a reed from any style of playing, and make their own sound, but the reed that *works* best for them, is their own of course.
Having said that, that leaves us with a question....where does the sound come from? The player! And that's why sounds are changing, and becoming more homogenous. Everyone is listening, and taking from another player what they think is good, and they translate this onto their own style of playing, regardless of reed.
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