First Chair Oboe Dispute Results in Two Oboists Playing Simultaneously for Entire Concert

A simmering dispute over first chair oboe in the Westfield Philharmonic erupted into public view on Saturday evening when both claimants to the position, Gerald Reed and Abigail Embouchure, arrived at the concert, sat in adjacent chairs at the front of the woodwind section, and played the entire program simultaneously. The conflict, which has been building since Embouchure joined the orchestra in September, centers on who has the right to play the tuning A at the beginning of each concert. Both oboists sounded their A before the Brahms. The resulting interval, described by the concertmaster as 'a minor second that lasted an eternity,' set the tone for the evening. 'It was awful,' said principal flautist Sarah Keying. 'Every solo passage had two oboes playing it in almost-unison. I say almost because Reed is slightly sharp and Embouchure is slightly flat, so the combined effect was a kind of shimmering nausea.' Maestro Fortissimo attempted to resolve the situation from the podium by directing his cues exclusively toward Reed, the incumbent. Embouchure continued playing, interpreting the conductor's gaze as 'an administrative oversight.' During the Adagio, which features an exposed oboe solo, both oboists played with what critics described as 'passionate intensity and complete mutual disregard.' One reviewer noted that 'the Brahms Second has never sounded quite like this, and with any luck, it never will again.' Fortissimo has scheduled a private meeting with both musicians. 'There can only be one first oboe,' he said. 'This is not a philosophical position. It is a physical reality. There is one chair. Two people cannot sit in one chair. I have tried explaining this with diagrams.' Both oboists have indicated they will attend the meeting but have requested separate appointments.