Author: vboboe
Date: 2005-10-17 19:17
... yeah, confusing, it's hard to find suitably descriptive words to define the nuances of different things one hears in oboe sound, so tried using similes and metaphors in attempt to make some distinctions, obviously not communicating clearly enough, below is a more elaborate attempt, yawhn
... haven't yet acquired all the 'jargonese' in this area, looks like a potential learning post item, or a referral, please, to useful sites in this regard?
... idea was to try and describe a more generalised or diffused oboe tone having some light and natural vibrato which blends readily (fuzzy around the edges) and therefore isn't necessily holding steady spot on with standard pitch or pitch du jour, as contrasted with the crisply clear, focused, centred and steady tone used for tuning
... however, that particular tuning tonal quality isn't exactly, or even ideally, the way oboe sounds when emotively or stylistically expressed (examples) as in Bach, Mozart, Stravinsky, Schumann, Holst, Mahler, etc. etc. is it?
I mean, it's the way one breathes and blows into the reed playing from the gut to emote and produce subtly different effects for the stolid Bach method or the light-hearted Mozart style ... yet those styles wouldn't be right for the profound moments needed in Mahler or the discordant conflicts in Stravinsky or the impressionistic romanticism of Schumann
... and on oboe :-) one can use a variety of techniques, such as different reeds with a variety of tonalities, the way one chooses to feel and breathe, deliberately lip sharper or flatter in pitch or tuning, more jaw bite or more jaw openness, off centre or fully centred notes, etc. all used deliberately as a means to that end
So, playing perfectly in tune and in pitch and with full-bodied centred tone really depends on the desired communicative impact of the music, doesn't it?
If there's tension already by slightly different tuning issues, this discord can be very effective when deliberately used interpretively. On the other hand, warm and mellow as in very sweet and pleasant and companionable ... must make a tone that's warm and fuzzy around the edges
... my own technical ability to play isn't any good yet at communicating non-verbally what i want to express as described above, but i am following my own advice of 3 P's, do have a teacher, am making progress over time, also actively particpate in reading and contributing, learning and linking from this oboe-specific board, it's a marvellous global resource, mwuah, mwuah, thank you all :-)
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