Author: wrowand
Date: 2006-07-02 06:30
ohsusan wrote: "Ah! The articulated C-C# solves the knotty problem of how to go back and forth between low C and C# without a blip"
I believe the issue is the low B to C# linkage -- which allows you to move between low B and low C# by fingering low C# and adding the B key. That's the most important mechanism that's missing on a Yamaha 441 on that part of the horn.
There's no such mechanism as an "articulated C-C#" that I'm aware of. Here's a complete list of what's missing on a Yamaha 441 that's generally present on a full-conservatory system oboe:
1. Low B-C# linkage discussed earlier (also called low B-C# trill, or articulated low B-C#).
2. Alternate low-C key for the right-hand ring finger (also called the banana key, or C-Db trill), used for trilling low C to Db. Not a very useful key, IMO. I don't recall ever needing it.
3. G# to A trill mechanism -- the extra key above the right-hand Ab key that you hold down while trilling the third finger of the left hand. It improves the pitch of the upper A in this trill.
4. Split ring key for the right hand third finger, also called Eb(D#) to E trill. When trilling Eb to E by holding down the left hand Eb key and trilling the right hand third finger, the split-ring improves the pitch of the upper note. It's also useful to have the hole present in this key to improve the response when slurring to a high D by closing just the ring part of the key with the third finger. That's what the Philly high-D mechanism does, it just does it automatically.
5. Low-Bb resonance key -- makes the tone quality of the low Bb closer to that of the low B and low C. Usually improves the pitch too, but that varies among brands. I think on Lorees it makes the pitch slightly too high, but I'd rather have it than not. On Yamahas, the pitch on the low Bb is just about perfect, one half step below low B. On Marigaux, Yamahas and Rigoutats, the low-Bb resonance key is slightly farther down on the bell than it is on Lorees. Also, on the Marigaux professional oboes, this resonance key lifts for the low B-natural as well as the low Bb.
6. Adjustment screw for the height of the key for the second finger of the left hand (sometimes called an adjustable Ab-Bb trill). This is mostly used to adjust the pitch and voicing of the middle and high B-natural. Calling it an "adjustable Ab-Bb trill" kind of misses the point, IMO. If there's no adjustment screw, the height can be adjusted by adding cork or bending the arm of the Ab-Bb trill linkage.
7. Third octave key -- not absolutely necessary, but it's nice to have sometimes. I only ever regularly use it for the high G, but it's sometimes nice when you want to play an unfocused high E or F.
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