Author: JRC
Date: 2011-06-05 03:31
I cannot help realizing that an oboe is a piece of wood that is shaped in certain way with different size tone holes drilled through at specific locations. Yet, I notice that oboe's playing characteristics change when I play on it for some time. The center intonation (and pitch) settles down to the acoustic limits of specific oboe, it responds to subtle musical demands (variety of different attacks and sound endings), tone color settle down to produce consistent range, and etc. Some new oboes take a few months to settle down to its acoustic limits. Some old rebuilt oboes take 6 months or longer. It is not just settling down to one particular person. Different people can tell an oboe that has been played on a lot by a "good " player. Definitely easier to play and better in tune. One can tell if the oboe is playing its acoustic limits.
It reminds me of violins, a sound box made of wood. Some Strads left in attic for a long time would not play well. They sound "raw" and uncontrolled. If it was left unplayed for very long time, violin makers tell me that it will not come back to playing condition. It will "die".
Would something equivalent happen to oboe? Any one have experience in this aspect of oboe?
I rebuilt a 60 year old Rgoutat that was in a bad shape (not played on for a long time). I got it completely overhauled. Ar first, it played sharp, some almost quarter tone. Its response was rough and untamed. But it had that Rigoutat sound. I kept playing on it for a year or so. The pitch and intonation settle down to 440. Its response is smooth. But it took a year to get to this point. It is still improving.
I would love to collect people's experience on this matter.
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