Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-10-16 13:04
I want to address the issue of the "crow" pitch versus the playing pitch of the reed.
My understanding is that to "crow" a reed, you blow it *without* embouchure refinements, putting your lips all the way down over the threads. This tells you what the unmodified pitch of the reed is. And someone has divined that, if the reed "crows" at the proper pitch, it will play in tune in the instrument -- all other things (such as the player) being equal.
What is the proper pitch for an oboe reed to crow? I've read various sources that suggest the crow should be at Bb, or at C, or at C# -- I imagine this is a matter of "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks". The most common prescription that I see is that the reed should crow no higher than C. Some folks talk about being able to get three octaves of C on the crow, but I don't think I've ever had a reed that would do that -- or else I just don't know how to do it.
But anyway, my point is that "crowing" a reed is different than "playing" a reed, with or without an instrument attached. N'est-ce pas?
Susan
edit: to unmangle my French
Post Edited (2006-10-16 13:08)
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