AboutGeoffrey Bridge Expertise Professional oboist with many years experience. Former pupil of Leon Goossens. Solo artist for Arts Council of Great Britain. Freelance recitalist/broadcasting/orchestras. Former Head of woodwind teaching in Hampshire, England. Questions on repertoire, playing styles, reeds, cane selection and processing.
Experience Royal College of Music
Licenciate of the Royal Academy of Music
General Teaching Council certificate
Broadcast solo recitals/performed with major symphony orchestras/Music Club recitals
Expert: Geoffrey Bridge Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: Half automatic and full automatic--the difference.
Question QUESTION: Hello, it's me again,
On many websites there seem to be selling knives for scraping reeds.
-- I wonder that do oboists, at one time,
need to know how to scrape their own reed or even make
their own reeds?
-- Do they/we need to know "how to do it" right at start
or does it need sometime learning and years of experience.
-- Whant is the main reason for one to make his/her own reeds since there is a lot of ready-made availabe?
Thank you again :-)
Wijayane S.
ANSWER: Dear Wijayane
Hi again. I'll answer one at a time...
Oboists don't need to know how to make their own reeds but it is good to know how to adjust them. Making helps this understanding better. There are videos which help the making and of course books too.
Reed making needs to be practiced like anything else I'm afraid. Some people find reed making easy other find it a big challenge and never get on with it. It does take experience to fully have the art at your finger tips. Lessons with an oboist/reed maker are thebest and quickest way of learning.
Oboe players make their own because they often find that commercial reeds are just not right for them. You can spend a lot of money on reeds from music shops and they prove almost useless. So you must find a reed maker that is reliable and makes reeds that suit you. Some great players don't make their own reeds such Goossens, Holliger and several others. There again great makers ther are who always make their own reeds and can't play on anyone elses make. It depends a lot on the level of playing you are doing. Top pros can afford to buy say 200 reeds and then find that about 50 from those that will be superb enough to last for a playing season. If you are playing every day it is difficult to keep on top of reeds. Other players would have reed blanks to scrape and use profilers to do most of the scraping work. Finishing off a reed is always a matter of play/adjust, play/adjust....This itself takes time.
Finally there are a great deal of reeds from shops that are totally useless. Go to a recommended maker otherwise you will end up being very frustrated by it all!!
Try this website for some views of lots of makers. http://reedreviews.net/
Very interesting. The KGe comments are a bit mixed but I would still try him.
Best wishes
Geoffrey
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi,
I'm here again with another question. Hope you don't mind
me asking questions constantly. I can't think of all of them at one time :-)
I have really done some thinking and have come to an
unsure feeling that whether or not I'll be able to afford
the Buffet. I never know the future, but for the time being the down-the-line choice as said is probably the Patricola. However, I found that the patricola's brochure indicates something about "full automatic system" and "half automatic system" If they were cars then I know
what this is all about, but when it comes to oboe...
1. Could you please explain the differences, pros, cons etc.
2. If I really have to go for the Patricola, the top one, it wouldn't bring me a feeling of regret not getting a Buffet, right?
3. Do reeds, like violin strings, are a major factor that contributes to the effects/characteristics of sound the instrument produces?
Thank you very much again. I'm sure I'll be back.
Wijayane S. ^_^
Answer Hi Wijayane
It is tricky is it not when you can't quite afford the one and think you may regret if you buy the other!
I am sure if you try the Patricola you will find it easy to play. Again this depends on the individual oboe as it always does. Do try before you buy or have someone you trust do this for you.
The difference between the octave systems is quite considerable. The full automatic system gives you convenience but adds greatly to the weight and the vulnerability for going out of adjustment. They are popular in Germany and Holland particularly. Most of the world however play the semi automatic system. This means that the thumb can be kept in contact with the back octave key and when you use the side octave key it closes automatically. This makes going from G to the A above the stave and upwards to top C easier. With the full system it does not matter which octave key you are using - back or side - the right one opens according to the note fingered. This does add to the metal work on the instrument.
There are many advantages of the semi. More fingering alternatives for example, lighter keywork, more reliable mechanism.
Reeds affect the sound GREATLY!! Believe me. That is why you experiment with a reliable supplier and in due course if you had the time, the inclination, the handicraft ability you make your own. But that really is not easy. Try a good supplier first.
Colorado Reeds seems like a good source by the way. Just to add to your list of possibles.
The top Patricola will be just fine. BUT do get someone to try it for you when you have it on approval.
Hope that helps. Sorry I was a bit late for you with this question's answer. I have been occupied with other things for a while!!
