 The Fingering Forum
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Author: oboeguy
Date: 2002-11-18 14:07
In the Barret method for oboe, which mind you is awesome, I came across the statement that the english horn is very similar to the human voice. However whenever I go to the symphony and hear it...it doesn't at all sound like that. Does anyone have any idea where this idea came from?
Oboeguy
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Author: Torus Tubarius
Date: 2002-11-19 03:02
Yeah I've read that too. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned the English Horn going by the name "Umana Voce" in Italy during his time. It seems to me this is really more a matter of opinion than anything else.
One thing to remember is that the Barret Method was published first in 1862, and the oboe family was still undergoing extensive development during this time as is evidenced by Barret extolling the improvements of his new oboe mechanical system which he had developed with Triebart. Oboes at this time were changing from the softer, more docile sound of 18th and early 19th century oboes to the more robust sound of the modern oboe which was needed to be heard in what were then orchestras of ever-increasing size. Perhaps when Barret made that comment about the English horn, it was the sound of the instruments of his day that he was talking about.
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Author: loco_oboe
Date: 2002-11-19 04:42
Actually, my old private teacher's teacher, who happens to be named Barret (no relation to the book) told me that double reeds are supposed to be the closest sounding instrument to the human voice.
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Author: Torus Tubarius
Date: 2002-11-19 06:26
Yeah that reminds me of something else I read. It's interesting when you consder that out of all the various ways to make an instrument sound, a double reeded device comes functionally closer to human vocal chords than any other. Jay Light mentions this in his book <i>Essays for Oboists</i>, and suggests that this may in fact account for why double reeds seem to "sing" in a manner more similar to the human voice than any other instrument. That is of course his opinion, and I have to agree with him.
But I suppose the only way to really know is to analyze the particular pattern of harmonics each instrument produces, and look for similarities with the harmonics recorded in a human voice. Actually I've been interested in doing that for a while. Don't suppose anyone knows where you can find such information eh?
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Author: Deshaun
Date: 2002-11-21 22:52
then how come the Bassoon really doesnt sound like a voice? If its tryin to cover the Bass voice or baritone, its doin a bad job, or that just could be my friends horn.
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Author: Torus Tubarius
Date: 2002-11-21 23:34
Well, the bassoon actually has little in common with the oboe family, other than the double reed.
I sorta hate to ask this, but is your friend any good?
Whenever I talk about instruments on this forum, I'm of course referring to the ideal sound, not something you might hear in your local band (unless of course your local band is filled with symphony orchestra musicians).
As on oboist, I'm probably coming off a little on the defensive side because I think a lot of the reason why so many people thing the oboe sounds so terrible is because they're basing that on what they hear in their school bands instead of what the oboe should and does sound like in the hands of people like Richard Woodhams, John Mack, Kathy Greenbank, Ray Still, etc.
You cannot, no matter how prejudiced you may be, say that <i>they</i> sound bad. It's just like how I personally don't much like the clarinet, <i>but</i> when I hear the clarinetists from a major symphony orchestra like Cleveland or Philadelphia or whatever, I cannot honestly say they sound <i>bad</i>.
Anyway, sorry. That's one of my many musical pet peeves.
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