Reed Project

Baroque

Measurements and photographs of modern Baroque-style bassoon reeds.

References: Also see these publications:

Terry B. Ewell with Todd Goranson. “Double Reed Measurements Part 1: Bassoon Reeds,” Scrapes International 2 (December 1999): 56-64. Reprinted in The Double Reed 23/4 (2000): 57-66.

Co-authored with Todd Goranson. “Reed Measurements Part 2: Bassoon and Contrabassoon Reeds,” Scrapes 8/1 (April 2001): 65-77. Republished in the Dutch edition of Scrapes 8/2 (May 2001): 51-63.

Co-authored with Karen Williams. “Measurements of North American Bassoon Reeds” The Double Reed 25/3 (2002): 97-104.

Terry B. Ewell with Karen Williams, “The John Miller Bassoon Reed Collection,” The Double Reed 41/3 (Winter 2018): 55-67. This is a reprint of the article in Scrapes (November 2002): 15-21.

Baroque Bassoon Reeds (Period Makers). These reeds are detailed in Paul White’s “Early Bassoon Reeds: A Survey of Some Important Examples” IDRS Journal 16 (1988).

Notes Blade and bore measurements of bassoon reeds # 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21 are in “Double Reed Measurements Part 1: Bassoon Reeds,” Scrapes International 2 (December 1999): 56-64. Authors Terry B. Ewell and Todd Goranson. Reprinted in The Double Reed 23/4 (2000): 57-66.

Blade and bore measurements of bassoon reeds #6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 22, and 23 are in “Reed Measurements Part 2: Bassoon and Contrabassoon Reeds,” Scrapes 8/1 (April 2001): 65-77. Authors Terry B. Ewell and Todd Goranson. Republished in the Dutch edition of Scrapes 8/2 (May 2001): 51-63.

Blade and bore measurements of bassoon reeds #24-30 are in “The John Miller Bassoon Reed Collection,” Scrapes (November 2002): 15-21. Authors Terry B. Ewell and Karen Williams.

Blade and bore measurements of bassoon reeds #31-46 are in “Measurements of North American Bassoon Reeds” The Double Reed 25/3 (2002): 97-104. Authors Terry B. Ewell and Karen Williams.

Pictures for reeds 1-23 were taken with a Canon AE-1 camera with a Canon Zoom Lens FD 35-105 1:3.5 and then scanned after development. Pictures for reeds 24-46 were taken with a Soni Digital Still camera, model MVC-FD95. Reeds were set on a paper clip for the photos.

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Faculty Development and Research Committee of Towson University that made possible the measurements for reeds #24-46.

Modern Baroque Style Bassoon Reeds

#6 Danny Band, Europe

The reed was 64mm in length. The blade was 28mm in length. The width at the tip was 16mm. Width at the collar was 11mm. The reed had a string wrap. Three brass wires were at 5mm, 22mm, and 29.5mm from the bottom.

#23 Robin Howell, Europe

This reed was 73mm in length. The blade was 30mm in length from the tip to the lowest point of the collar. The collar is steep, like an inverted finger-nail shape. The projected tip width was 16.5. The width of the reed at the lowest point of the collar was 11mm. This reed had a string wrap. Three wires, probably copper, at 10mm, 30mm, and 35mm.

Adapted for 2reedPlus from the original Reed Project page.