Playing the oboe is not easy. You need to blow with a strong, controlled power through the small opening of the reed in order to produce a fluent sound. During the last few decades new insights relating to the blowing technique (position of the mouth, velocity of the air) have prompted a smoother way of playing. It has become more comfortable and the sound is more fluid. How higher the level of making music, how more heavenly the sound. It is like topsport: you hardly notice the energy of the effort.