Oboe & English Horn Reed Case

This cigar case is one of many. It was the first one I owned, which was actually gifted to me by my professor at Millikin University, Tina Nicholson. She is a gifted oboist, so it was an important moment in my education. Although most oboe & English horn players don't smoke as they need substantial lung strength, many carry around several cigar cases as the compartments in them are the perfect size to house oboe reeds. This one is from the Macanudo company, a brand imported from the Dominican Republic.

The “double-reed” is the essential mechanism for making the distinctive sounds of oboes, english horns, and bassoons. As the name implies, these mouthpieces are made from tying two pieces of reed together. The reeds come from France, as the climate there is best for providing the correct moisture and density needed to make the plants make the correct sound. Once a playable reed is formed from the plant, an oboist must preserve its delicate condition in a case like the one pictured. Along with cigarette cases, players will also often use cigarette paper to absorb excess moisture which comes from breathing into the instrument, or a humidifier like a wet sponge or an orange peel to keep the reeds more moist on colder, dryer days.

The option of using a cigar case is often employed by younger players, who do not have the financial ability to purchase the more technologically advanced reed cases on the market. There are many expensive elements of reed making, and general upkeep that come with having a very delicate wooden instrument. This artifact was chosen because it represents the early phases of becoming an experienced oboe and English horn player, and the trial and error process of finding what's best for an instrumentalist.