 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboi
Date: 2013-02-15 21:14
Has anyone experimented with an American scrape on a baroque oboe reed? Sound characteristics aside, I'm at my wit's end trying to make a playable baroque reed (long scrape, heartless [indeed!!! grrr]) and thought about just scraping like I normally do and checking out the effects. For fun, I've stuck an EH reed onto the bottom staple and it sounds thin (and at A-440) but nothing disasterous. So if I used the proper cane on the proper staple but just scraped like I normally do, at least I'd be able to knowingly adjust response/pitch, I think.
Or, if one of you know.... what might be the cause of constant squeaking on the D, Eb and E on the staff? I don't think it is (always) the half-hole, covering up tone holes issues, but it does happen a lot in faster passages and moreso on particular reeds. It is not an over/under-blowing issue. Other than these 3 problematic notes, I can decently play the instrument. The lack of these 3 notes, though, mean I can't perform it in public.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-02-15 22:58
The German-made Baroque reeds I've got are long W scrape (with a long central spine) with a long tip, so pretty much like an American scrape.
They're a lot softer than reeds you'd use on modern oboes as Baroque oboes are far more reliant on breath pressure due to them not having such luxuries as 8ve keys.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-02-20 10:05)
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2013-02-15 23:09
I have never played baroque oboe nor do I play American scrape, but squeaking on a shorter scrape reed (particularly on notes with more fingers) sometimes is indicative of not enough 'meat' in the reed, so the reed is too thin and at risk (or is) collapsing under the pressure required to reach these notes. If you are using a U-scrape reed, try leaving more in the 'heart' and taking more from the sides, the base of the scrape and the extreme of the tip.
I am playing a lot of bassoon at the moment (and loving it!) and a whole world has opened up to me when I treated the half-hole notes as not so much half-hole, but varying degrees of open. Have you tried experimenting with 1/4 and 3/4 'half-holes'?
I'd love to hear how you're going! When you feel more confident, I'd love to hear a clip.
Rachel
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2013-02-17 23:31
Steven Hammer lives in New Your and gives workshops all the time on Baroque oboe & reed making. You can contact him at <sh.hoboy@gmail.com>
I have one of his reeds and thay are quite similar in architecture to the 'typical' American scrape.
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: oboi
Date: 2013-02-18 06:49
Is that a general rule for a U-scraped reed, to scrape more out of the sides? It was so disconcerting when I was told, "more out of the sides, more out of the sides!" when it is ingrained in my head to avoid the rails at all cost!!! Is leaving on more spine important in a U-scraped reed?
I've not really experimented with degrees of half-hole, as I have enough trouble with just closed, half and open!
Unfortunately I am not close to NY but yes, I do want to use his type of reed when I get my own instrument. If anything, at least his shaper, as I'm not too fond of shaping by eye!
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2013-02-18 16:08
When I was first being shown how to scrape an American reed, I could not do it without destroying the rails every time, as I was used to them being one of the first things I took out!
I believe it is common to take more from the sides, but I am not the best one to be asking, as my short-scrape experience, while it has been successful, is more by feel and research. Taking more out of the sides often has the effect of 'tricking' the reed into thinking it is harder than it is, so it maintains a core of sound, if that makes sense.
Many other adjustments cross over from American scrape - the importance of thinning the sides of the tip for warmth, for example.
Rachel
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2013-02-19 19:26
The main function of rails in the American scrape is structural. You have this really long scrape including windows that take a lot of the strength out of the cane. Without rails your reed would behave as if you had tied two pieces of paper together.
Short scrape reeds have natural structure to support the reed. The main issue here is keeping enough mass in the heart for a solid tone, while encouraging the reed to vibrate easily with the wind. Ergo, thin, to (in some cases) nonexistent rails.
2c
J.
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2013-02-19 23:58
Sorry for the late response. I have studied with a couple of the leading American baroque oboists, all of whom use an American scrape (some modified) for their reeds.
Sincerely,
Wai Kit Leung
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Author: oboi
Date: 2013-02-20 07:49
Ah, very interesting. I'll try to take off more of the rails to see if it frees up the reed more. I think the reeds I am trying to emulate are semi-American, if that makes any sense. European short scrape looks REALLY short, if I am understanding correctly. These look like a hybrid. Medium-length scrape, but U-shaped back, no separation of heart/back, longish tip.
I think for my next blank, I'll try an American-type scrape.
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