 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Wayne
Date: 2002-01-07 23:52
Can anyone explain the differences in range between the two and whether a double reed is more difficult to blow in order to produce a nice sound? I understand the fingering of the oboe is harder than the clarinet but I wonder about sound production.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-08 01:08
Hi Wayne!
You sound like you may wish to investigate oboe playing. I've played both for many years and like them both. However, the oboe consumes a lot ot time and energy. Reedmaking takes years to learn, the instrument is complex and hard to adjust, and the technique takes a lot of work. Many single reed players have tried the oboe and found it to be too much work. For all of that, it can be great. Good Luck.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-01-08 04:08
I'm one of those players who tried the switch and didn't make it. (A good teacher would have helped and really is essential for the oboe.) I forget the exact range, but it is similar. This is a concert pitch instrument which eliminates transposing, but each note will sound 1 step higher than the clarinet. It overblows on 8s, rather than on 12, and therefore has octave keys (like a sax.) (Remember ours is a "register key.") This makes the fingerings a good deal different. However, the fingerings weren't my problem.
The difficulty in producing the sweet oboe sound is not to be underestimated. And if you think clarinet reeds are picky... Making, adjusting and living with oboe reeds is incredible. The reeds are smaller and thinner than clarinet reeds. There is no mouthpiece, any contact with that end of the instrument (even by your shirt or jacket) will destroy the reeds, almost guaranteed. There is no such thing as a reed cap, the reed must be removed for safety, and then the instrument re-tuned as the tuning adjustment is at the reed (no barrel.)
Another consideration is that the purchase cost for oboe is somewhere near double that of the clarinet.
On the positive side, it has a beautiful and rather unique sound. And, a good oboist will never have trouble finding places to play!
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Author: Josh
Date: 2002-01-08 14:40
the oboe (which is pitched in C, as opposed to the clarinet's standard Bb [or Eb, or A, or...]) descends to the Bb below middle C, or your clarinet's middle C, and goes upward of...well, depends on how strong your embouchure is and how much eyeball backpressure you can tolerate :P The accepted standard is about the second G above the staff (fourth line), but I've heard much higher...I can get up to about an A or a Bb before my brain starts to run out my ears, but it's *really* rare to play that high anyway.
And yeah, those babies are expensive. (oy vey!) Even a student model will run you about what you'd pay for a REALLY decent clarinet...pro models cap out at somewhere around $7000 (list) with all the options. (rosewood, gold keys, high D facilitator, low A, etc.) Makes ya wanna run right out and buy one, eh?
Happy clarinetting/oboing!
Josh
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-01-08 16:21
I do echo the above comments. I tried [fought the battle with] the Ill Wind for some 10 years, and lost due to my reed and embouchure inadequacies, and took comfort with the clarinet family. I did enjoy a few successes, particularly with the English Horn [less demanding] and recall several "fairly-satisfying" performances. Great experience, do appreciate hearing fine playing, but wont repeat. Don
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-09 01:37
I am interested in oboe too. I adore Leon Goosens, not Pierre Pierlot or Heinz Holliger.
I always have these questions to start oboe.
1)Are there any good ready-made oboe reed manufactures?
To save time.
2)What is 'vocal' and what effect do different vocals have?
3)There seem to be two different kinds. One allows altissimo range playing, the other does not. Why?
4)Which system to buy: automatic, semi-automatic, full-concervatoir?
By the way, just like clarinet, is there any system taken by German or Vienna oboe players?
After searching for long, I found price range is:
Laubin(American)>F.Lauree>Rigouta/Marigaut>Yamaha/Buffet>Fox.
Laubin is really an exquisite manufacturer and customers have to wait for more than one or two years but they are too expensive!. Yamaha seems to be improving.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-09 01:54
Hiroshi - we have the wonderful Diana Doherty as principal oboe in the Sydney Symphony - her sound is indescribably beautiful and sweet. If you ever get a chance to hear her on CD (ABC Classics have produced at least one), then I recommend trying to get hold of it. Her sound, to my ear, isn't too unlike Holliger's (though quite different) - but I note he's not a favourite of yours (odd).
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-10 03:03
Thanks I will listen to her CD.
I dislike Holliger's mechanical expressions.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-10 03:17
I know what you mean, but I do like his "sound". The oboe sound I don't really like **(IMHO)** is the English made oboe. Having said that, I adore the principal oboe of the London Symphony - his/her sound is just to die for (must look up their website and figure that one out).
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2002-01-10 03:58
I started oboe a year ago. Though I have a lot to learn, I love having a challenge outside of private lessons, because our band music is really easy. The fingerings aren't really much harder, just a note or two, and the lower and higher oboe octaves are fingered the same (for the most part) Yes, it is difficult to play at first, especially if you have a reed too hard for you, or have to teach yourself. But, about reeds, though it takes a long time to learn, there is nothing like a handmade reed. I buy my reeds, because I haven't found a teacher or time for lessons, but I have used one hand made reed, and the difference is amazing. One really strange thing about oboe is, rather than running out of air, you will often find you have to release old air in order to take a breath. And, even more than the clarinet (I think) a reed can make or break your sound. If you are lucky enough to buy a really nice reed, take really good care of it. If you don't make your own reeds, a really nice reed is rare.
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Author: Kai
Date: 2002-01-10 14:46
Hey Hiroshi,
I don't have all the answers but I hope this helps:
1 There are ready-to-play reeds from manufacturers like Glotin & Vandoren(?) but whether it is 'good' is subjective. People who have little time or skill or beginners may find it extremely useful to buy such reeds and with a little adjustments from their reed knifes, they can be made to play relatively well. The double-reed responds to our individual embouchures in such a intimate and sensitive way that there's no way a commercially produced reed will satisfy half the people half the time! Double reeds are a matter of life and death to us - there's no mouthpiece or ligature to upgrade on - everything is the reed. Thus, for starters and maybe amateurs, they can be good enough and better if adjusted.
2 I don't understand what do you mean by 'vocal'. I can only think of the bocal of the English Horn. In that case, it refers to the neck of the English Horn that connects the reed to the instrument body. It is of utmost importance because it influences the playing in matters of pitch as well tone and playing generally. Usually, people go shopping with their instrumements and try to find one that fits.
3 Sorry, I don't understand.
4 Semi-Auto vs Fully Auto
The modern oboe has 3 octave keys. What the Fully Auto model does is connect the first 2 octave keys so that you have only to press one down for the entire range of notes involved. It's just like the Manual gear car vs the Auto gear car. It's only a matter of which one you are used to. Both are still in production and none is the better.
The Auto is good because it saves you from pressing the key which is actually quite awkward during fast runs. However, experts say the semi-auto allows you to play with more alternative fingerings and even harmonics, etc (good for modern music). One minor setback seems to be that with the addition of the automatic system which is found near the top of the oboe, with the more number of holes and posts drilled into the tiny bore, it renders the top joint more prone to cracks.
Nowadays, oboe manufactures can just add the auto system if you ask them to.
The Full Conservatory System of oboe is the one most commonly found nowadays, and I think, most prominent in the States. However, I am not sure about the other systems. I think for the oboe, the key systems are basically similar in all modern usage, the only differences are the addition of special keys.
If I am not wrong, the Germans are coming to use the Conservatoire System much more commonly but I am not sure. The Vienese still use their special brand of oboes which have a characteristic 'bulb' at the top just below the reed; not sure about the fingering though.
If you have the chance, have a listen to Albrecht Mayer (a Buffet Greenline user) who is the Principle of the Berlin Philharmonic. His playing and tone is just beautiful. I also had the chance to hear Maurice Bourgue live - his sound is very different (Rigoutat) but no less than Mayer.
I myself play the clarinet too but actually found the clarinet more difficult. Sigh.
Regards
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-11 03:32
Thank you Kai. I would choose a semi-automatic Rigouta.
It is a priveledge given only to an oboeist to set the orchestra picth of a day.
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Author: Kai
Date: 2002-01-11 14:47
You are most welcome Hiroshi.
Personally, I think giving the A is the most difficult and nerve-wrecking job of our 'repertoire'.
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