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Re: Starting Again!

Author: wrowand
Date: 2005-03-14 21:13

No offense intended, but I couldn't let an earlier post go without commenting on a couple of points mentioned:

vboboe wrote:
>>> ... it helps me to use alternate fingering freely in Aflat Maj, depending on going upscale or coming downscale

IMO, when starting (or returning to) the oboe, it's too easy to develop bad technical habits. Please use the prescribed fingerings so that they become second nature to you. The only alternate fingerings necessary in Ab major are the left-hand Eb and forked F.

>>> ... my first oboe teacher umpteen years ago made me do
>>> dreaded-dreadful drills on forked F's using right and left Eb key as
>>> resonance, and forked Bflats using right or left G# as resonance,
>>> forcing those reluctant fingers to move together as one ... so now I
>>> find it's an ambidextrous bonus to be able to use alternate fingering in
>>> Aflat Maj (forked Bflats also in Eflat Maj)

Forked Bb is a trill fingering. The pitch and timbre of Bb fingered this way is no substitute for the usual Bb fingering and you shouldn't get in the habit of using it.

If your oboe has a forked-F resonance key, adding the Eb key is not recommended as it will make this note sharp. On most Loree's, forked-F is already too sharp. IMO, the "covered" timbre of an in-tune forked F is generally preferable to the bright sound of a sharp forked-F fingered with the Eb key.

>>> ... going up from Bflat or C to Dflat - try using the "forbidden" fingering
>>> of just closing the F# hole with all other open holes (this plays top C#
>>> or Db) instead of the standard fingering

Don't do this -- for the same reason mentioned above. Open C# is a trill fingering and should only be used (a) for trills, (b) when there's no other solution, (c) for a rare but sometimes-desirable alternate timbre.

Best Wishes,
-Woody

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2004-12-11 02:26