 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Northreed
Date: 2004-08-04 15:49
Hello:
My reeds (oboe and EH) almost always have a "good" side, in fact, for my playing, I make them so that the upper blade is just the tiniest bit stronger than the lower. My tips are always quite uniform in strength, but I make the tiny difference in blade strength by adjusting the half-moon (the "lay" either side of the heart). I use an American-type scrape, by the way. The tiniest dusting in these areas makes a tremendous difference in the response and tone of the reed, so be cautious and take a little off at a time, trying the reed frequently for a minute or two.
An interesting little anecdote vis a vis how we play:
After the late Leon Goossens had a car accident which tore his lower (?) lip and damaged nerves, etc., he had to learn to play with his upper lip, so the story goes. He was in his seventies by this time! This suggests that his primary control was in his lower lip for most of his playing career. I heard of this shortly after it had happened (1970's?) and this taught me a valuable lesson both for playing and for car safety!!
Remember that the English style of playing (especially in Goossens' time) had a more "smiling" embouchure than the contemporary North American "pursed" embouchure, so perhaps the manner of reed control may have been slightly different. But, we're all different, so it stands to reason that each of us has a different primary control surface (upper or lower lip).
Just a few thoughts... I hope they help.
Nigel
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ohsuzan |
2004-08-04 03:14 |
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Nissen |
2004-08-04 07:55 |
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Re: Do Oboe Reeds Have a "Right" Side? new |
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Northreed |
2004-08-04 15:49 |
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d-oboe |
2004-08-11 03:33 |
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Ember |
2004-08-11 19:25 |
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The Clarinet Pages
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