I sell oboe reeds and if I might say, I think they are very good. I sell quite a few oboe reeds to students, and many times they try to purchase oboe reeds that are way too hard for them. So you ask, what hardness should we ask for when we purchase reeds? The answer to that is very simple, you purchase a hardness of oboe reed that is comfortable to play, and that you do not have to struggle to play. The oboe itself is hard enough without coupling that with oboe reeds that are way too stiff. It is just not healthy to be pushing that hard while playing the oboe.
As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, Ray Still who was principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony for 40 years would come over to my house and to my shop. It was actually a very terrifying experience every time he came over because yes, I idolized him, but he was the best of the best at the time he was principal in Chicago. I asked him about hard oboe reeds one time and this is what he said: “People who play hard reeds are not better, they are just stupid”. While that may be harsh, there is a lot of truth in that.
When I play difficult works in the professional realm, I will make oboe reeds that are consistent with the music I am playing. There is a recording of the Sequenza VII of Luciano Berio on my website. It is so difficult to play and almost impossible to play with a hard reed, therefore you must make a very light oboe reed. If I play a Bach Cantata, then I will make a reed that is slightly hard but just enough flexibility where I can play through different octave successfully. One oboe reed does not satisfy every single piece of music that you will play. Woodwind quintet reeds are also quite a bit different than orchestral oboe reeds.
So with all that said, you can always ask me as to which oboe reed would be best for you either as a student or amateur or even a Semi-Pro and I will help you with your selection. I enjoy helping people get exactly the reeds that they need.
Have a great day and play pretty!
Kerry