Why no middle wire? – Why my reed style works for me and how it can work for you!
“Why no middle wire??”
I get this question occasionally following a few scenarios. First, upon further inspection of my reeds, I’ll have a new student who realizes that my reeds don’t have a middle wire like the one their band teacher gave them. Second, I’ll post an advertisement for my reeds on social media, and another bassoonist who may have never heard of reeds with only two wires before takes notice and asks the question in a comment. Or third, I’ll be selling my reeds at a vendor table, and a potential customer asks the question.
For me, the answer to this question can have a few different responses depending on the situation!
My most frequent response is a brief elevator pitch on why I like this style. The pitch is that I find that the two-wire style affords:
Exceptional tone in all the registers
Responsive and resonant reeds, and
A well-constructed reed that rarely produces cracks in the blade or leaks in the tube and over all constriction of the reed.
The second response (worthy of acknowledgement) is that this is the style I learned while pursuing my DMA at the University of Iowa. I learned other traditional styles before starting my doctorate, but this style really clicked with me! I personally love making reeds in this style. After some practice and refinement, my reeds are well-made and highly consistent.
Two-Wire Bassoon Reeds
Lastly, this is not only the style that I enjoy making but also playing with! This style yields responsive reeds with the rich, warm tone I value in my bassoon playing. It works for me, and I strive to make it a viable option for others to turn to!
The bassoon community is blessed to have so many options of reeds and styles to turn to, and I am pleased to be in the company of other excellent reed makers!
- SR
