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Re: Dark reeds?

Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-11-30 14:34

Neat responses!

I think the important thing to state is that timbre of sound is extremely subjective. It follows, then, that we cannot attribute objective qualities to it.\

"Heinz Holliger has a bright sound"

vs.

"Heinz Holliger has a sound with more high partials than most American oboe players"

The second statement actually says something concrete and objective about what we are hearing.

However, timbre actually doesn't matter. Why?

The best musicians (or actors/actresses, even) don't lock their voice in a specific tone, and then just use it for all occasions. Of course not! The best performers are extremely flexible - they are physically capable of adapting to many different kinds of situations.

So back to the reeds:

Why is it then logical to "make a dark reed" or "make a bright reed"? If the best quality in a performer is flexibility and adaptability, shouldn't it follow that the reed allows the performer to do that?
Most IMPROVEMENT as a player comes in learning how to be flexible and to adapt. Making a reed darker/brighter DOES NOT meet that goal, because it isn't something concrete that one can evaluate oneself on. Does a bright tone mean one is less able to adapt and a dark tone more? Nope!
What does meet the goal is making a reed that is very comfortable, and that allows one to really seek out the best possible phrasing in a piece of music.

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Dark reeds? new

d-oboe

2007-11-29 12:16