Gadget: Nagamatsu oboe shaper tip No. 1

Elevation: 800 to 1,400 feet

Temperature: 74ºF to 89ºF

Humidity: 46% to 77%

Notes: I had a chance to try my Nagamatsu no. 1 shape in Scranton, PA. As I suspected, it did better than in Weston, VT (ca. 1400 ft). The rehearsal was in a very hot (high 80ºF) and dry (high 40%) downtown Scranton (ca. 800 feet), and the performance was at a cooler (mid 70ºF), wetter (high 70%) outdoor venue at a higher elevation (ca. 1400 ft). The reeds maintained good pitch in the hot hall, and the higher altitude of the outdoor venue was mitigated by the higher humidity. The only problem at the rehearsal venue was that every one else was going up in pitch (particularly brass) and I had to push it up to keep up.

My reeds maintained good intonation and good sound, but they seemed unnecessarily stuffy and hard to tongue on the low register. Next time, I think I’ll try to gouge the cane slightly thinner (about .01 mm thinner) to see if it helps.