 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: DarwinSax
Date: 2019-03-19 04:58
Attachment: IMG_5592.JPG (858k)
Attachment: IMG_5593.JPG (787k)
Attachment: IMG_5594.JPG (806k)
Attachment: IMG_5595.JPG (808k)
Attachment: IMG_5596.JPG (625k)
I have acquired one of these English Horns and it appears to be an automatic octave, but I am not quite sure what the thumb key does. It isn't really positioned to be a thumb plate, so I am hoping someone here can help me identify a useful fingering system for this instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-03-19 19:56
That's an older German system with the Bb/C key for the left thumb and RH index finger. It's like a thumbplate system but it works in the opposite way as you press the thumb key for Bb/C as opposed to releasing it as you would do with a thumbplate.
The side key duplicate the thumb key and is used for either the primary fingerings for Bb/C, for trilling to Bb/C and also for the upper register Bb/C where you physically can't use the 8ve key and thumb key at the same time. It would be better if this cor was fitted with a 2nd 8ve touchpiece to free up the thumb for the high Bb and C.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DarwinSax
Date: 2019-03-19 22:51
Chris,
Thanks for the quick response. I have reeds coming in soon, so I will be able to try it out. This is a double for me, so I am hopeful that it will work out. When you refer to adding a second touch piece, do you mean making it non-automatic, or just a second way to press the octave mechanism to free up the thumb? I am somewhat new to the world of oboes and the like, and this was a purchase of opportunity, so I am learning as I go.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-03-20 00:57
The 2nd 8ve touch will duplicate the action of back 8ve touch so it will still be fully automatic, but if you're used to doing leaps to high A to C and rely on the 2nd 8ve touch for that as you would on a semi automatic, then that will give you that level of security and saves on the embarrassment of nudging the trill keys open instead.
I had a 2nd 8ve touch added to my d'amore as it's German spec only because I couldn't get used to using only the back 8ve key for leaps to the top of the upper register. I'd instinctively go for the 2nd touch when I first got my d'amore and nudge the C-D trill key open instead which wasn't the desired effect.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hotboy
Date: 2019-05-24 09:51
Just a note about English Horn bocals. The bocal that came with your instrument looks to be of the archaic "continuous curve" type, which have a high register that's easy to hit but tend to play out of tune. If you want to play more in tune, consider buying a modern bocal for the instrument that is more of an "angular" style, which looks like this:
https://hodgeproductsinc.com/english-horn-bocal-hiniker/
Dane
Bay Area, California
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-05-24 23:16
You'd have to check a French-style crook is compatible with a German-style cor as some may be incompatible. Perhaps try a Moennig or Puechner crook as well as a Hiniker or similar ones that are designed with Loree cors in mind.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
