 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2010-10-03 18:28
I'm putting together an amateur-level ensemble at my church. I did this last year, and used mostly high school students, but with their busy schedules and the inconvenient fact that they graduate, I am now gathering adults, some of whom are dusting off their instruments.
I have a bassoon player, a flugle horn player (in lieu of a french horn), a Bb clarinet player, a flute, and...that leaves me with nothing to play except C clarinet or oboe.
Thing is...I don't know how to play the oboe.
Other thing is...I have access to an oboe, but don't own a C clarinet.
So which route to take? Do I spring for the C clarinet and enable myself to jump in and play the oboe parts immediately, or do I start oboe practice and hope I don't bring down the rest of the ensemble, which, although they are not professional players, are high quality musicians?
Or, do I transpose the oboe part and play it on Bb? Is saxophone an alternative?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pappy
Date: 2010-10-03 18:34
Don't know what your timeframe is, but don't be intimidated by the oboe. It can be quite rewarding. It's a different beast but not as daunting as some would have you believe.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-10-03 19:27
Soprano sax will be the nearest thing to an oboe - and much easier!
But do at least give oboe a go to see how you get on and seek the best advice/tuition you can get as soon as you start.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboeidaho
Date: 2010-10-03 19:36
The oboe would be fun to learn if you have the time, but why don't you just transpose the parts to Bb if you want to jump right in? This is a very valuable skill for clarinet players as pretty much no one plays a C clarinet - the only one in town I'm aware of is HORRIBLE, our 2nd clarinet player borrowed it since she didn't want to transpose the Moldau and it was awful.
Just my thought- if you can't transpose on sight and aren't interested in learning - there are many transposing programs available (lilypond is free), or you could pay to have a few pieces transposed for much less than a C clarinet!
Good luck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2010-10-03 21:03
Okay...got the sample oboe in hand, along with the Fox fingering chart. I can get a sound out but this fingering is nuts. To go up one must go down. Hmmm. Learning curve might be more than I have time/willingness to give.
Now looking into the soprano sax as suggested by Chris P. I understand that it is based on the Boehm system? Perhaps it is a little more instinctive. The question then becomes the real necessity for the difference in sound between a clarinet playing a transposed oboe part and a soprano sax playing a transposed oboe part (assuming soprano sax is a Bb instrument).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-10-03 21:13
Soprano saxes are in Bb but that's where the similarity between them and clarinets end - if you play soprano sax with a clarinet embouchure you will have tuning problems. With saxes the embouchure is more relaxed than on clarinet and you blow down to pitch as opposed to blowing up to pitch on clarinet.
The keywork is based on Boehm system and they overblow an 8ve like oboes (and flutes), six fingers down xxx|xxx is D in both lower and upper registers and all fingers off gives C# in both registers.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kimber
Date: 2010-10-04 00:00
But you might notice that the clarinet and oboe fingerings are very similiar for the upper registers (D5 and up). And on oboe you can usually get away with a little octave key juggling.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-10-04 06:21
> all fingers off gives C# in both registers.
How would I switch octaves if all fingers are off? ![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
Friend of mine plays the oboe part on - you may sit down now - on a trumpet with an odd kind of mute. It's amazingly close, I'm sorry to report.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-10-04 17:12
If I were you, I'd opt for the path of least resistance (and expense). IMO, for what you want to do, playing the oboe parts on Bb clarinet should be just fine and you can start making music as a group immediately. The transposition is an easy one and, if the oboe parts aren't too complex, with a little practice you will be able to read them right off the original page.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2010-10-04 18:53
I agree with Jack Kissinger and the other posters; if you use a "damn the torpedoes" approach by trying to play the oboe, you will sound like a dying goose or very stubborn mule, or both and will lose potential friends in the audience! Get to know the oboe later, with patience. Embouchure and breath supply are different, but the key system is just fine...and all you must do to go up an octave is to depress the octave key! best wishes
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-10-04 19:26
It's simple to transpose to C while playing the Bb clarinet. Take the oboe music and play it one step higher than written. Add two sharps to the key signature as written (or subtract a corresponding number of flats).
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
