 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboi
Date: 2018-12-14 12:50
I have been comparing both of my horns now and one thing I noticed is that on my newer horn, when I press the low B key, it closes the low C vent. On my old horn and also my oboe, the low B key only closes the low B vent. So I'm curious at why the difference for this extra mechanism to close the C.
I still have a lot of testing to go, but one thing I did immediately notice was that on the newer horn the 3rd octave E-flat is harder to sound, whereas I normally never have problems with that note. Does it warrant a different fingering? I normally do: DxxB|oxx
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-12-14 14:48
What make/model oboe have you got?
Sounds like it has a low B-C link whereby the low C key will be closed along with the low B or Bb keys. That's favoured in the UK, Germany and Italy, but not all that common or desired elsewhere.
On most oboes it can't be fully disengaged due to how tight the low B-C link is fitted without doing some cutting back of the adjusting screw pip on the arm at the lower end of the low C key, but on others (such as Howarth oboes from the last 30 years or thereabouts) the low B-C linkage arm is either set so the screw can be backed off completely to disengage it fully, or the arm can be bent up to disengage it (and the screw can be wound down to fully engage it again), but have that done by an oboe specialist in any case.
If you like that feature (which makes a low Bb-Eb and low B-D# slur much easier), then use the G# key for your altissimo Eb instead of the low B key.
Chris.
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Author: Hotboy
Date: 2018-12-14 22:00
The main reason is that the low B key is used in the high Eb fingering, and closing the Bb vent would negatively affect the pitch.
Dane
Bay Area, California
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-12-15 03:20
On most oboes the low Bb vent is already closed for nearly every note and only opens when you play low Bb. Unless you have a Marigaux or other oboe where the low Bb vent is opened by the low B key.
There are other fingerings for altissimo Eb that don't use the low B key - players with oboes fitted with the low B-C link can't use the low B key for altissimo Eb and use the other fingerings where the G# key is used instead.
Chris.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-12-15 20:10
Attachment: bclink.jpg (183k)
Check the lower joint to see if it has a low B-C link.
See attachment for a comparison of an oboe fitted with one and one without.
Chris.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2018-12-16 12:01
My new EH with the linkage is the Mönnig Diamant. What fingering would you recommend for the altissimo Eb?
My oboe is a Marigaux 2001.
Other than altissimo F# and altissimo G, I have used the exact same fingering for both cor and oboe.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-12-16 17:22
Try the short fingering or altissimo Eb - oxxG#|ooo
If it's too sharp, then add any combination of RH fingers (except RH1) and the low C or C# key.
I've been considering adding a low B-C link to my Marigaux 930 cor for years (I've had it since 1998), but still haven't got round to doing that yet.
Chris.
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