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Re: Technical Demands on an Oboist

Author: JRC
Date: 2012-05-22 15:54

Have you seen a group of Chinese acrobats doing those amazing things with their bodies? Not just one of them, all of them!! That does not make the point of human body is made to perform as such. It only comes from practice.

Unfortunate evolutionary history of mechanics of oboe got us where we are today. Oboe fingerings simply do not lend itself for flowing fast scales and arpeggios similar to saxophone, clarinet, and flute families. Forked F and concurrent lifting and closing moves for C and Bb are the main culprits responsible for this shortcomings. Yes... there are reed issues and tone color issues. In my opinion, these are just finicking issues compare to awkward fingering system. Each and every oboe player develops those special tricks to produce unique tone and it often gives purpose (or illusion) of being an oboe player. But every one have to deal with the same awkward fingering issues... no illusion here.

Oboe happens to produce probably more unique tone color than other instruments that gives bright red underline in orchestral passages. Many composers and arrangers take advantage of this, But it is also another instrument that adds volume and often tone color combination to some orchestral and band music passages. Oboe players are not so special to be excluded from that practice. One should not forget that each and every instrument has its unique and special tone color too. Oboe is just another musical instrument no more special than any other.

I wish oboe community is more accepting to improved fingering system. Such is indeed possible without sacrificing its unique tones and/or without abandoning all the technical improvements achieved by the modern manufacturers. Oboe could be as agile as any other wind instrument and accordingly, the repertoire will expand.

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