Author: wrowand
Date: 2007-04-02 18:48
I play a lot of chamber music and for me, having a good low register is very important. It's part of why I now play a Yamaha 841 which has a very responsive, in-tune low register. I find that the low register responds better when my lips are clear of the tip of the reed. Generally, I prefer that the low register doesn't sound muffled or covered.
If you find that the low register works better when you squeeze your oboe or press harder on the keys, then your oboe is out of adjustment. Get a repairman to fix it before you develop carpal tunnel.
WRT the reed, for me, a balanced reed without too much out of either the tip or the back will play well in the low register. I've made pretty hard reeds that play well in the low register and soft reeds that play well in the low register. As long as it vibrates well and is well balanced it doesn't need to be particularly soft.
If your approach to playing in the low register involves making a soft reed with too much out of the back, what happens when you have to play high B's and C's? I make my reeds so that they don't require much work to play up-to-pitch on high A, B and C and I usually don't test the low-register response, but these same reeds usually play very well in the low register too.
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
