Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-02-04 13:22
Well said Susan.
I just wanted to add a few thoughts :
- the reed has less of an effect than we all think. Given a functioning reed, an oboist will generally sound the same regardless.
It seems obvious, but many people forget it: the only way to improve tone on the oboe is to...yes...practice it! Most people have a general idea of what they would like to sound like...it's just a question of putting in the time, and building the necessary muscles to be able to do it.
-harder reeds do not give better tone, nor is it necessary to "move up" in hardness as clarinet players do. First and foremost the oboe reed must v-i-b-r-a-t-e. It must do this at the required pitch level, and have enough stability so that a bite isn't necessary to play in tune. That is all that can be asked of a reed....after all, it's just grass wound onto some metal....
In my opinion: forget the word "dark" for oboe sound. The oboe isn't a dark, fuzzy, warm instrument. If you like that, go back to clarinet. The oboe is a very clear, singing, expressive instrument - becoming obsessed (as many of the young-ish oboists are) with making it sound "dark" usually kills this expressive capability.
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