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: Covered vs. open holes

Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-16 00:01

Beginner and student models often have covered keys (and several with no holes through them at all) so players with small hands can close them fully as the stretch between the main action fingerplates and toneholes is larger on oboes than other woodwinds, and this ensures the keys close even if the player's fingerspan isn't wide enough. They'd struggle to play open hole oboes if they can't cover the holes well.

Covered keys with perforations (perforated fingerplates) are important with Gillet Conservatoire system oboes as the plates with perforations are used to tune trills better than trills on open hole oboes as the notes will issue from the perforations whn the keys are closed by the trill mechanism.

On a full Gillet conservatoire the Ab-Bb trill is done by playing Ab and trilling with LH2 - the G# key holds the LH2 fingerplate closed but lifting LH finger 2 off the plate uncovers the perforation to give a well tuned Bb. If the LH2 plate was to open fully, the Bb would be too sharp.

There's the G#-A trill which is the upper RH1 side key - this key is used as an extra G# key (and instead of the LH G# key) and it holds down LH3 fingerplate, so you only trill with LH3 and the A is kept down to pitch while the G# key is standing open. The A would be too sharp if the LH3 plate were to open while the G# key is open.

Likewise the D#-E trill is done by playing D# (Eb) using the LH Eb key and trilling with RH3 - the linkage from the LH Eb key holds the inner bush of the RH3 fingerplate down and has the smaller diameter and longer chimney that brings the E down to pitch while the Eb key is open, otherwise the E would be too sharp.

So these perforations compensate with a smaller diameter vent hole and longer length of chimney (effectively extending the length of the tonehole) for both the higher position and open toneholes that would otherwise make the trill notes too sharp.

Student oboes often come with covered keys so transition from a basic model up to an intermediate model then to a pro model won't feel too different, though the amount of keywork and linkages are far less on student models so they can't do all the same trills a full Gillet model can.

Ring key models aren't played or built that much nowadays - the majority of oboes are built with Gillet Conservatoire system keywork for the pro market or are student models with keywork largely based on it.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics