 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: Jaysne
Date: 2007-09-17 02:09
Just how many reeds do you keep at the ready?
I've seen oboe reed cases that hold quite a bunch, and I know oboe players are crazy about reeds, so I thought I'd do a little survey here.
Presently, I have 10 that are finished and ready to go at a moment's notice.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Schell
Date: 2007-09-17 02:19
I usually only have one reed performance/audition ready (I also use these for orchestra rehearsals if there are no upcoming concerts or auditions I need to worry about) and one or two others to practice on. I play so often that they wear out quickly but I make reeds enough that I just play on new ones most of the time- I also really like the "sparkle" in the sound of a new reed so don't hang on to mediocre ones for too long after they lose that.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-09-17 02:52
However many I need, really.
I like to aim for at least 3 reeds ready for regular use. During heavy performing time, rather than just rehearsing, I aim for 5 reeds. Obviously, this doesn't always happen, and after all, we only ever perform on one reed at a time - I usually don't switch reeds in a performance unless it's necessary. I know some people have up to 5 different reeds they use for a single performance...but that's really an "orchestral" way of doing things. In terms of non-orchestral playing, and of course, auditions (which many people have to do) I think it's better to learn to do everything necessary on the one reed that is in the oboe, rather than having to switch reeds for this/that repertoire. Of course, keep plenty of extra reeds on hand if one breaks, or dies out too quickly, but they shouldn't be specifically required in the performance. That way, I think there is actually much less stress on the performer - because if you prepare so much that you can do everything on one reed, then your 3 backup reeds are actually backups!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Schell
Date: 2007-09-17 03:37
what sort of playing do you do other than orchestra and solos?... I suppose chamber music. but I have a feeling that's not what you mean?... I'm just curious.
ashle
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Schell
Date: 2007-09-17 03:37
what sort of playing do you do other than orchestra and solos?... I suppose chamber music. but I have a feeling that's not what you mean?... I'm just curious.
ashle
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-09-17 17:50
I mean any playing other than orchestral. In the orchestral setting, one can get away with changing reeds in the middle of a piece, if there is enough time. Obviously, with any other type of music where breaks are infrequent, reed changing isn't much of an option. One has to learn to deal with whatever the reed is doing at that moment. Chamber music, solo performing, and auditions are places where you can't just stop and change reeds, unless it's truly a dire emergency.
I guess it's somewhat of a personal preference when I go to a concert - I can deal with a musician swabbing out their instrument between movements, or blowing water (occasionally) off keys, but when people start fussing with reeds, that does it for me. Even the water problems can largely be avoided with a proper warm up (to avoid too much surprise condensation) and a good swabbing before going on stage.
I went to a concert recently of the full cycle of Die Winterreise by Schubert, arranged by my teacher for a wind quintet + accordion. It's 24 songs. To me, it would disrupt the flow and energy and the piece if every two movements a reed had to be changed, or an instrument swabbed. Thank goodness, that's not what happened - the performance was incredible.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboemoboe
Date: 2007-09-20 12:13
Ah, I love your teacher's quintet, they always play interresting stuff (didn't they play a mime opera about a guy who falls in love with a chair, or something like that?).
I'm sad I missed the Schubert, I really love that cycle.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-09-20 14:03
yeah..."A Chair in love"...sometime last year. I went and saw it, I just forget when! Although, "Chair in love" wasn't the mime opera; that was "Cosi Fan Tutte." It was about love in an entirely different form. haha!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
