The Oboe BBoard

The Oboe BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: newbie

Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-11-13 16:44

Hi again --

Yes, joining a community band can really push the learning curve. I joined a pretty good community band last summer (on clarinet), after too long a time just noodling around on my own. By myself, I was playing rather virtuosically, but it was a rude awakening having to quickly read complicated music in unfriendly keys. My other band issue was about being able to hear myself. The clarinets sat in front of the brass (high, low and in between), and honestly, there were times when I could not tell what I was playing -- or even IF I was playing -- because I was getting no auditory feedback from my own instrument. It was all drowned out by the brass. I actually considered at one point putting a pickup on my instrument and using an earphone monitor. It all got better after a few weeks, and we had a successful season. But this coming year, I want to be the oboist.

As far as what I am playing on the oboe -- let's see -- I started out with a Telemann "Partita in e minor", which I have actually performed in public already (with my bassoonist friend, and a pianist faking harpsichord on an electronic keyboard). I had learned this piece many years ago on the soprano recorder, so it was an easy transfer to the oboe. It's a clever piece -- seven short movements, not too difficult, very oboe-friendly key, easy range.

My bassoonist friend and I are currently working on the Telemann "Sonata in a" (luscious andante movement). I also am working on the four Handel sonatas (d minor, e minor, G major, C major) that are published together in a Schirmer edition by Whitney Tustin. And just for fun, and to stretch my skills, I have got the playalong version of the Mozart Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major. Not going public with that one anytime soon, however.

All those things, plus lots and lots of scale and expressive exercises, keeps me off the streets pretty much. I have gotten obssessive about the oboe, I'm afraid. I just love it so much. I played the clarinet for many, many years, and just never loved it. Always wrestling with it. I actually hated the feel of the thing in my mouth (hmmm . . . .). But I do love the oboe. It's not a rational thing at all.

So, what's the difference between a thumb-plate oboe and the "full conservatory" style? I've seen photos, but never really understood the particular differences.

Hope you're not hyperventilating yet. [grin]