Careful selection of the cane is fundamental, as it determines the quality of the music produced by the reed.
In the heart of the Var in southern France, the Van Doren family has been growing Arundo Donax for three generations. Arundo Donax is also called "music cane" by the natives of Provence.
There are many important factors to consider when growing cane: the specific qualities of our soil, hygrometry, the climate, a generous sun, and the wind, which brings the cane to life, not to mention the experience and know-how of the people that grow it with passion.
It takes four long years of care and attention to bring cane to the point where it can bear the prestigious name of Vandoren. Cane is grown from rhisomes, and in the first year the cane reaches its final size and diameter. At the end of the second year, after gaining its body and strength, it is ready for harvesting.
The cane is delicately cut with shears designed to avoid bursting the fibers; it is cut by hand in the tradition of the old journeyman carpenters. The harvest is carried out while the moon is descending, when the sap is utterly still.
“ Mr. Van Doren gives this little piece of cane a soul, which one day will be able to express itself through the musician’s talent.”
The cane is bundled and sent to Vandoren’s protected and ventilated warehouse for processing. It is then stripped, cut into 6 foot sticks, and put out in the sun to take on that golden color that sometimes leaves brown marks. The cane is re-bundled and sent to Vandoren’s protected and ventilated warehouse to dry for another two years before manufacture begins.
Many quality controls are carried out at all stages of production.
Once the cane is ready for manufacture, the first cut is made. This first cut produces the rough shape in preparation for transformation into reeds. These rough shapes are beveled to an accuracy in the order of 1/100 mm, following mechanical models created by Bernard Van Doren, whose knowledge, passed along for three generations, makes it possible to combine an endless number of lines and curves.
Mr. Van Doren gives this little piece of cane a soul, which one day will be able to express itself through the musician’s talent. Every cane has its own character, by which the strength of the reeds is determined. No two pieces of cane can be identical due to the nature of this natural product. After the final inspection by trained craftsmen, the reed receives the Vandoren logo, the strength and the authentication code before being placed in a protective cover.
To protect the reed against humidity variations, it is individually wrapped in a factory fresh Flow Pack packaging. Flow packs are packed in boxes bearing an authentication code.
Now the reeds are ready for musicians. Vandoren has professionals from all over the world play-test our reeds to insure that each reed meets with Vandoren’s high standards.
