DOUBLE –REED WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS

DOUBLE –REED WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS

Many centuries ago, the crusaders who reached the orient were intrigued by a double-reed instrument made of two hollow pieces, of wood called a Shawn. They carried this and brought them to Europe with them and over the centuries it underwent many challenges, from the little improvements here and there the oboe, English horn and bassoon took shape. The oboe, English horn and bassoon are called double-reed of cane, a bamboo like wood. The two pieces are tied together back to back with a slight opening between them to allow air to pass through, As you blow through  the opening , both reeds vibrate. This vibration sets the air column into motion and produces a sound.

You can buy a reed for your particular instrument at any music store, but most professional musicians prefer to make their own reed, and my advice is always that you make your own reed because it allows you to understand your instrument more and to adapt it to your needs.

For a double-reed embouchure, you must form a cushion with both your upper and lower lips by placing them over the teeth- just as you do when you drink through a straw.

To get a feel of what am talking about, take an ordinary drinking straw, Flatten one end and cut the flattened corners with a pair of scissors. This forms an opening similar to a double reed. Place this end between your lips and blow lightly. You should produce a sound, caused by the vibration of each flattened side of the straw. Now cut the bottom of the straw and blow again. You will realize that the sound is higher.

OBOE AND THE ENGLISH HORN

The oboe is the soprano of the double-reed group. It is the tuning pitch for the symphony orchestra. Because the oboe cannot adjust its pitch as well as any of the other instruments it gives the pitch to the other members of the orchestra.

It is a mystery why the English horn is called by that name, because it is not a horn as such and it was never developed in England also. The English horn might be considered an alto oboe-it is about 8 inches longer than the oboe and therefore its pitch is lower. The English horn ahs a slightly bent mouth piece to allow the player to play in a comfortable position. Also its bell (the end piece) is pear shaped while the oboe has a conventional bell.

Many oboists play the English horn as well since they are played in much the same way. There are generally there oboe players in the symphony orchestra and the concert band. One of these players will also play the English horn.

Suggested listening

Oboe

Bach : Sinfonia to church Cantata

Bach: Jesu , joy of man’s Desiring

Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld

Prokofiev : Peter and the Wolf( duck)

Satie-Debussy : Gympodie

BASSOON

The bassoon the bass of the double-reed group was originally a large bass shawm. In the middle Ages it was extremely long sometimes over 8 feet so that I could produce low pitches. By the 16^th century, it was shortened by means of two wooden cylinders placed side by side and connected in a U shape.

Our modern bassoon is also U shaped but with additional keys and rings. It’s still long however –over 9 feet –but you would never guess the actual length because of the way it is put together, and the total length because of the way it is put together, and the total length of the contra-bassoon is 16 feet . The air goes down one pipe, makes a U-turn and goes up the other pipe.

Only in this way could one person handle this large, low-pitched woodwind instruments. A cord placed around the players’ neck hooks on to the bassoon and helps to supports it. The bassoon’s bell points upward. The contra-bassoon, a very large bassoon, is the lowest-sounding instrument of the woodwind family. Its bell points down-ward.

There are least three bassoons in the symphony orchestra and concert band.