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Re: Winter Reeds

Author: OboeAgain
Date: 2007-02-12 13:33

My reeds in winter are somewhat, though not radically, different from the summer reeds. I'm in Vermont and agree with d-oboe, who is just to the north in Montreal, that the crow tends to be a bit different.

I find that I soak the reeds longer in winter. I've also had the embarrassment in rehearsal of entering after a long period of rest to find I can't get a sound out of the oboe because the reed has dried. I've learned to take the reed out of the oboe and keep it in my mouth during the longer rests.

Like d-oboe, however, I do like the uniformity of the humidity in the middle or winter or in the middle of summer. It does make it easier to make reeds predictably.

Like you, Susan, we too had a mild early part of winter with great variations in temperature and humidity. It drove me nuts for a while. I found that I had two types of reed: Summer reeds and Winter reeds. The Summer a bit shorter so that they would come up to pitch and the Winter a bit longer so that they would not be too sharp.

I have also gotten used to looking at the opening of the reed in Winter. I soak long enough to have a good opening and frankly toss out some reeds that never open as I like them.

Walter

Post Edited (2007-02-12 21:40)

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