 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Oboebabe
Date: 2006-12-06 00:00
So there I was. Moment was finally mine when I am good enough to choose my own oboe and I am surrounded by (insert any brand oboe) I was having trouble with hearing the sound between two oboes and I asked someone to help. They sent their "pro" oboist who travels far and wide and is very well known and wanted on the Eastern Canadian scene. They kept explaining how amazing and greatly wanted this person is. I was happy to meet another oboist (since there are not many of us in Canada). When this person played I was shocked by how disappointed I was, the player sounded like a clarinet!!!! I was there for an hour and a half and I got to know a bit of their sound.
I am scared for my future. My sound is the oboe sound. This person came out soft and muffled ..they had a nice vibrato I will give them that but damn. So clarinet sound is what is all the rage now? SIGH. Well it is up to me to be a person who won't stand for that. I may not be what many look for but I will hold out until the fad fades.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-12-06 00:23
Don't worry about your teacher. You'll find your own sound. Just because you study with someone doesn't mean you'll sound like them (or even are capable of physically sounding like them due to differences in physical make-up.)
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Author: Koch Fan
Date: 2006-12-06 01:50
I suggest you listen to many great oboists....oboists who you admire. You will develop a sound that is all your own. When I was a student, my teacher suggested I listen to John de Lancie playing Jean Francaix's Flower Clock as a nice example of oboe sound. I fell in love with the piece and with the sound. I was very fortunate to eventually be able to study with Mr. de Lancie. Another of my oboe heroes was Lothar Koch, the incomparable former principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic. I don't believe that I sound particularly like either one of these amazing players, but they both had a major influence on me and my playing. As far as oboe players not blending but stirring, be careful. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to get "inside" someone's sound, whether it be a flutist, clarinetist, violinist etc. By "inside" I mean blending with them to make a beautiful new sound. You want to have this capability. Oboes should blend AND stir!
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-12-06 02:23
It's unfortunate, but you live in Canada, and the unreedy oboe sound is what is preferred. Take comfort in the fact that the major Canadian oboists (or those who play in their symphonies) tend to have a somewhat lighter sound compared to their US counterparts. However, the orchestras don't want to have a reedy oboe sound - they want a clear singing sound. In europe they have a reedier sound - that's fine for them.
Don't get discouraged though - players are gradually releasing themselves from the super-dark sound. At McGill University in Montreal, the main motto among teachers, mine especially, is having clarity in the sound. This means absolutely no distortion - no muffled clarinet sound, no chirpy, buzzy reed sound. Balanced, clear, focused....expressive above all else.
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Author: Oboebabe
Date: 2006-12-06 04:16
Thank you for your responses I was feeling very alone. I feel better.
Cjwright, my teacher is not involved in my story. Actually I am very very proud to say that Rémi Collard is my teacher who studied under Heinz Holliger. Rémi is an excellent teacher and we have a good time. He says I already have a nice oboe sound, gone are the duck calling days
As for having oboes blend and stir. I agree with that. I just exaggerate with my signature because I have heard too many pieces where I had to strain my ears to be able to tell if there is an oboe in it or not. It is nice to identify the voices.
You are right I shouldn't worry about it too much. I am still a baby and time will tell what my sound will be like. Vanier College Fall 2007 Music Program here I come.
Happy playing all!
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-12-06 13:20
Be sure to make a distinction between raucousness of sound and tone (and tuning - eep) and playing with enough volume to be heard. It is very possible to play with a clear smooth sound, and still be heard.
Also, keep in mind that the composers of said pieces write in a way to expose different combinations of instruments at different times. If there is a section where there is a solo flute, solo oboe, and solo clarinet playing a "soli" passage together, it *shouldn't* sound as if there are three soloists blasting away so that they can be heard. It should create one type of sound. As you gain experience, you'll figure out what this sound is, and how to create it with your peers. (they will have to learn it too!)
There isn't really ever a time when you can just blast away on the oboe without thinking. (Except maybe when testing reeds, and at parties of course!) Whenever you are performing serious music in front of a group, EVERY phrasing (which incorporates every note!) must be planned out. Every note should mean something. You should be able, in words, to describe what you are doing, and what musical intention you are striving for. If you can't say in words what you are doing you ***will not be able to improve/practice it!!!***It's not enough to play a bunch of nice tones (or indeed a bunch of wild tones) in hopes that it might come out nicely on that day. Otherwise, it's really just notes...not music.
D
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Author: Oboebabe
Date: 2006-12-06 14:06
d-oboe
There isn't really ever a time when you can just blast away on the oboe without thinking.
Eeps...I didn't mean to give the impression that is the sound I desire. I really appreciate your input! I have a dear friend who is a master at phrasing and she is teaching me how to interpret a piece. (I also know that they way she interprets it may not be the style and way the conductor does, so I am keeping an open mind)
I agree that just pumping out 440's isn't music.
d-oboe
If there is a section where there is a solo flute, solo oboe, and solo clarinet playing a "soli" passage together, it *shouldn't* sound as if there are three soloists blasting away so that they can be heard. It should create one type of sound. As you gain experience, you'll figure out what this sound is, and how to create it with your peers. (they will have to learn it too!)
I can't wait!!
d-oboe
If you can't say in words what you are doing you ***will not be able to improve/practice it!!!***
Awesome advice, thank you so very much for taking the time to help a newbie!
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