Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-01-27 03:03
The most important factors of reeds are response, pitch, and resistance level. I know this is past your concert date...but for next time..
A reed *MUST* be the right hardness level in order to play comfortably. Playing on too hard or too soft reeds only results in rapid fatigue. The abdominals cannot support the tone correctly, in either situation, and therefore the embouchure has to make up the difference.
A reed has to be built to play in tune, and to respond properly, otherwise it isn't a reed - it's a toothpick. Despite what you might think, your basic tone doesn't actually change that much from reed to reed, but what IS evident is how well the reed works. If it's tubby and hard, that's the first thing the audience hears. If it's too small and weak, the audience hears that too.
Even a mediocre oboe player can sound good on a reed that works, but that doesn't necessarily have the best inherent tone. Trust me!
However, the best advice I can give is: play on what you have. Or learn to.
It's easy to get caught in the reed trap, hoping for that elusive "perfect" reed (and if you're paying for them...25$ reeds!!!!) ....but that's pointless, and a waste of practice time.
Personally, I try to practice on every reed in the box (finished ones). I would recommend you do this too, as it gives you more confidence around concert time, in that can play on anything.
I've had to *perform* on bad reeds. It's not very enjoyable, but it's possible to get through unscathed.
Good luck on future performances!
d
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