"We are at the mercy of our cane." I imagine all of us have felt that statement to be more or less true at various times during our oboe playing careers, whether in professional performance, teaching, or a combination of both. Of course it is possible for us to vary our reed scrape to suit our personal playing habits and musical demands, but in the final analysis it does seem that these two tiny slips of cane do guide and, in some instances, rule our performing lives. Due to certain methods employed to predetermine the likelihood of success in, for example, a given batch of 100 pieces of shaped cane, we might possibly discard a rather high percentage as being inadequate for our needs. We look for such things as evenness of grain, a "certain" color, a "proper" degree of hardness, smoothness of gouge, and possibly many other factors as well. We might even employ certain tests regarding the ability of the cane to sink in water over a predetermined time span. All these factors are important in our attempts to determine which pieces of cane have the greatest chance of performing best. In the final analysis the real test comes after we have gone through the time consuming process of mounting the cane on a staple and scraping it down to a finished reed. Based on the tests above, assume for a moment that we discard up to 25% of our cane prior to making the reed. Of the remaining 75% assume that we achieve success with all of them, a good average for even the best reedmaker! We are then faced with other problems such as, making the surface of the scrape as smooth as possible, "breaking-in" the reed, being constantly alert for subtle changes in the reed which affect its stability, minimizing drying effects which might adversely affect its playing quality, and, finally, being alert for any indication that the reed has passed its peak and is irreversibly on a downward track. (These indications may be very subtle or rather dramatic as I'm sure we all have witnessed.) We really do seem to be at the mercy of our cane. Ideally, there should be some way in which our cane supply could be treated so that all of the adverse effects might be eliminated or at least minimized as much as possible. This projected treatment should impart beneficial effects to the cane and, perhaps more importantly, preserve all the properties which we have came to admire in it.
With these thoughts in mind, some 2 1/2 years ago I began a project involved with the treatment of oboe cane. It started with my personal cane and then progressed to that of my students. Last year I initiated a study to treat cane for oboists from all over the country and Puerto Rico. The following is a report of that study followed by recommendations for further efforts in this very important area. Initial efforts in cane treatment would not have been possible without the generous assistance in time and equipment from the following persons at the University of Iowa: Dr. Lucas Van Orden, Pharmacology--Dr. Diana Van Orden, Obstetrics and Gynecology (also an avid amateur oboist)--Dr. Steven Hedden, Music Education--Dr. Edwin Norbeck, Physics--William Schnute, Research Associate, Pharmacology--The Graduate College.
To the best of my knowledge there are no published reports detailing methods employed for treating cane used in the manufacture of oboe reeds. Hopefully, this will be the first of many attempts by oboist-researchers to deal with these methods. The search for the proper chemical substance to use began with suggestions from various colleagues. They centered around the chemical Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), a harmless, wax like substance used as an imbedding agent to assist in slicing thin samples for viewing in electron microscopes and as a preservative used in treating wood. An interesting account of its use in the latter area is found in an article on the raising of the oldest ship in the world (National Geographic, Vol. 146, No. 5, Nov., 1974). The article describes the trials and errors involved in developing a proper procedure for preserving the wooden remains after raising them from the bottom of the sea. PEG exists as a liquid at low molecular weights and as a solid at higher molecular weights. One of its most distinguishing properties is its extreme attraction to and solubility in water. We experimented with various molecular weights, temperatures, and strengths of solutions. PEG 1500, mixed at 100% (weight per volume) worked best in all respects. Initial attempts were made using a warm solution but it was decided that no direct benefits could be observed from warming the compound. All solutions used in the treatment were PEG 1500, 100% (w./v.), at room temperature. Cane was first treated by immersion, but more complete diffusion and quicker results were obtained by vacuum infiltration. The latter method was utilized throughout the study.
The cane was first placed in a vessel of water and pumped down in the vacuum chamber for 1/2 hour to insure that all the air had been extracted from it and that water was infiltrated throughout. The water was then poured off and the PEG solution added. This was then pumped down in the vacuum chamber for 3/4 hour, which proved to be the optimal time for complete diffusion of the chemical into the cane. Since PEG is extremely attracted to and soluble in water, we were confident of complete infiltration to all internal areas of the cane. The cane was removed from the solution and allowed to air dry. Prior to gouging, shaping, or tying on it was given a minimal soaking in water (5-10 min.). Cane in various stages of processing was used during these early attempts at treatment; pre-gouged, gouged, and shaped. This treatment was carried on for a period of about one year and beneficial, as well as undesirable effects were noted.
In the spring of 1974 it was decided that the process should be tested on shaped cane obtained from oboists around the country. Since the gouging process is carried on by relatively few oboists, shaped cane was chosen as providing the easiest obtainable sample from the widest variety of players. A letter was written and sent to 81 oboe teachers and performers in all parts of the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico outlining a procedure to send shaped cane to me for treatment and return. Of the 81 letters sent, 27 replies (33%) were received indicating an interest in the project and including 12 pieces of shaped cane to treat. Prior to treatment the ends of each piece of cane were color coded; four pieces green, four pieces red, and four pieces black. Unknown to the participants the red and black pieces were treated and the green pieces untreated, giving a blind situation for later analysis. The treatment utilized was the vacuum infiltration process described above. The cane was returned with the following questionnaire which was to be filled out and returned to me.
Your have been given cane, some of which has been treated with a harmless chemical substance and some of which has not. Each piece has been coded with one of three colors: red, green, or black. Process the cane in your usual manner. Please answer the following questions for each color as you would relate it to your usual cane. Please circle the number which most closely matches your feeling.
I. 1. Scraping characteristics?
red _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very easy same very hard
green _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very easy same very hard
black _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very easy same very hard
2. Finished smoothness?
red _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very smooth same very rough
green _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very smooth same very rough
black _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
very smooth same very rough
II. 3. Tonal characteristics?
red _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
'darker' same 'brighter'
green _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
'darker' same 'brighter'
black _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
'darker' same 'brighter'
4. Response characteristics?
red _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
like 'broken-in' same like 'new'
green _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
like 'broken-in' same like 'new'
black _____1________2________3________4________5________6________7_
like 'broken-in' same like 'new'
Of the 27 intial participants, a total of 20 (74%) returned questionnaires. Five months later a follow-up was sent to these 20 asking them to evaluate two additional areas.
I. As compared to my usual reeds, the colored reeds seemed to last . . .
Longer same shorter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
green ----------------------------------------------------------------
red ----------------------------------------------------------------
black ----------------------------------------------------------------
II. As compared to my usual reeds, the colored reeds seemed to dry out . . .
faster same slower
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
green ----------------------------------------------------------------
red ----------------------------------------------------------------
black ----------------------------------------------------------------
The results of the questionnaire and follow-up card were tabulated and analyzed. Certain statistical tests were conducted to determine the significance of the results. Following are tables showing the results and the statistical tests run. Due to unknown factors some respondents failed to answer every question for each color which is the reason for the totals in each color occasionally being less than 20.
Table I
Responses to Questionnaire and Averages
I 1. Scraping Characteristics?
very easy same very hard
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 3 2 1 9 2 2 1 3.8
red 1 3 3 7 4 2 0 3.8 3.9
black 3 2 0 9 3 0 3 4.0
I 2. Finished Smoothness?
very smooth same very rough
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 5 2 4 6 1 1 0 2.9
red 1 1 4 9 3 1 0 3.8 3.4
black 4 4 1 9 2 0 0 3.0
II 3. Tonal Characteristics?
'darker' same 'brighter'
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 2 0 5 8 3 0 0 3.5
red 1 1 3 6 4 4 0 4.2 3.9
black 2 1 3 9 1 2 0 3.7
II 4. Response Characteristics?
'broken-in' same 'new'
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 2 2 7 5 2 0 0 3.2
red 0 2 1 8 3 4 2 4.6 4.2
black 1 4 2 8 1 1 2 3.8
Table II
Responses from Questionnaire for Treated Cane (red & black)
I 1. Scraping Characteristics?
easier harder
1-3 4 5-7
12 16 12
I 1. Scraping Characteristics?
smoother rougher
1-3 4 5-7
15 18 6
II 3. Scraping Characteristics?
'darker' 'brighter'
1-3 4 5-7
11 15 11
II 4. Scraping Characteristics?
'broken-in' 'new'
1-3 4 5-7
10 16 13
Table III
Responses by color from Questionnaire and Averages
green
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I 1. 3 2 1 9 2 2 1 3.8
I 2. 5 2 4 6 1 1 0 2.9
II 3. 2 0 5 8 3 0 0 3.6 3.4
II 4. 2 2 7 5 2 0 0 3.2
red
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I 1. 1 3 3 7 4 2 0 3.8
I 2. 1 1 4 9 3 1 0 3.8
II 3. 1 1 3 6 4 4 0 4.4 4.2
II 4. 0 2 1 8 3 4 2 4.6
black
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I 1. 3 2 0 9 3 0 3 4.0
I 2. 4 4 1 9 2 0 0 3.1
II 3. 2 1 3 9 1 2 0 3.8 3.6
II 4. 1 4 2 8 1 1 2 3.8
Table IV
Responses to Follow-up Card and Averages
I. Lasting Qualities?
Longer Same shorter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 0 3 1 4 2 1 0 3.7
red 0 1 2 4 2 1 0 4.0 3.9
Black 1 2 0 4 2 1 0 3.7
II. Drying Tendencies?
Faster Same Slower
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
green 0 1 0 8 1 0 0 3.9
red 0 1 0 8 0 1 0 4.0 3.9
Black 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 4.0
Table V
Responses from Follow-up Card for Treated Cane (red and black)
I. Lasting Qualities?
longer shorter
1-3 4 5-7
6 8 6
II. Drying Tendencies?
faster slower
1-3 4 5-7
2 15 3
Table VI
Responses by Color from Follow-up Card and Averages
green
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I. 0 3 1 4 2 1 0 3.78
II. 0 1 0 8 1 0 0 3.9 3.8
red
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I. 0 1 2 4 2 1 0 4.0
II. 0 1 0 8 0 1 0 4.0 4.0
black
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Average
I. 1 2 0 4 2 1 0 3.7
II. 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 4.0 3.85
Several factors are noted as a result of the study of Tables I, II, and III.
Similar factors are noted in Tables IV, V, and VI.
To determine the significance of the results of the questionnaire, two statistical tests were run. The first, called an F test, was utilized to determine whether the differences found in the raw scores were attributable to chance or were significant differences. Table VII summarizes the results of the F test for each response in the basic questionnaire.
Table VII
Analysis of Variance-F Test
I 1. Source ss df ms F P
Subj. 131.98 19
Treat. .70 2 .35 .58 .05
Error 22.97 38 .60
Total 155.65 59
I 2. Source ss df ms F P
Subj. 42.40 19
Treat. 7.30 2 3.52 2.21 .05
Error 60.30 38 1.59
Total 109.73 59
II 3. Source ss df ms F P
Subj. 11.58 18
Treat. 5.05 2 2.53 1.22 .05
Error 76.95 37 2.08
Total 93.58 57
II 4. Source ss df ms F P
Subj. 34.18 19
Treat. 18.43 2 9.22 4.52 .05
Error 77.57 38 2.04
Total 130.18 59
Value p indicates the likelihood of the difference occurring due to chance. The value >.05, in items I1., I2., and II3., indicates that the difference observed could occur by chance more than 5 times per 100 responses. Thus, the responses in these areas would indicate that the differences were a result of normal variability. The value >.05 in item II4. indicates that the difference observed could occur by chance less than 5 times per 100 responses. Thus, the response in this area indicates that there was a real difference occurring between the three colors. Since the outcome of the analysis of variance demonstrated that there was a significant difference among means in II4., the second test was used. The Tukey test was administered to determine which pairs of means differed significantly. Without going into the mathematical details, it will suffice to say that the red-green pair of means in II4. differed significantly. At this point it is difficult to say why the difference occurred between these colors and not between black and green. For some unexplained reason the red treated cane differed from the black treated cane. One proposed hypothesis indicates a color bias for red which may have been operating throughout the test. This remains to be proven by conclusive evidence. It was felt that the results of the follow-up card indicated the same trends as the questionnaire. No statistical tests were run for that data.
On first reading, the results would seem to support the suggestion that nothing of significance was gained from the project. On the contrary, it should be noted that several important facts were brought to light which could prove helpful in future studies of this kind.
1. It is possible to treat cane with PEG without causing any adverse effects to the finished reeds. This is especially important when one considers that to effectively test a reed it is necessary that it be played in a live, performing situation. If no adverse effects are apparent to the performer, the proper psychological climate should be present for an optimal testing situation.
2. The usual scraping characteristics were indicated as being present, showing that the process does little or nothing to change the way the cane feels to the knife, neither too easy nor too hard. A consistent scraping "feeling" is important to achieving consistent results. Although not shown to be statistically significant, there were, nevertheless, 2 1/2 times more responses indicating smoothness than roughness of the finished scrape in the treated cane. Smoothness of the finished scrape, where each area of the scrape flows smoothly into adjacent areas, is felt by many oboists to be associated with successful reeds.
3. No change was noted in tone quality. This was a most important finding since even the smallest change in tone is noted by critical oboists and can affect their performances dramatically.
4. As anticipated, response was reported to be similar to "new" reeds. This is further proof that the reeds were not adversely affected by the treatment process and would be similar to usual reeds, requiring a "breaking-in" process.
5. Although not shown directly by the study, the vacuum process is considered by the author to be effective in promoting the distribution of the treatment medium (PEG) to all parts of the cane structure. This has been shown by the consistently shorter time necessary for the cane to soak prior to tying on. Although not easily available to everyone, vacuum pumps are found in most university science departments and are easy to operate.
To achieve maximum benefits from PEG treatment the following suggestions are offered:
1. To maximize the smoothness of the gouged surface as well as the scraped surface, it is recommended that treatment be made prior to gouging and after shaping.
2. To minimize the drying effects of reeds during the winter months and in year around arid conditions, it is suggested that surface applications of PEG be made after each day of playing. In this way, PEG lost to saliva would be replaced, providing a constant source of artificial moisture and making the soaking process much quicker and more uniform.
Although no major improvements were noted by the participants working with 8 pieces of treated cane, no adverse effects were noted either. The question as to why respondents rated the untreated cane (green) better in all respects than their usual cane remains a mystery whose solution may be found when an analysis is someday made of the subjective thoughts of oboe players. After a 2 1/2 year period of time and hundreds of pieces of treated cane, my students and I feel that there are sufficient benefits to continue the process. The main areas of benefit seem to be smoothness of the final scrape and minimizing of the drying effects associated with arid winter conditions. It is hoped that others will try the process in an attempt to ascertain the benefits for themselves. Further study is definitely needed to determine the exact nature of other possible benefits as well as to further substantiate the findings of this study. In the meantime it is hoped that researchers will explore projects related to this so that in the future we will be better able to control our cane instead of being "at the mercy" of it.