 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-12-20 21:59
Hi all!
I have been playing oboe for a year and a half now and finally got to try an English Horn. My nice teacher loaned me his Loree!!! I was pleasantly surprised how it wasn't so foreign. Within 30 minutes I was playing all my oboe songs on it, just a 5th lower. My initial observations are as follows:
Second register takes lots of air pressure, much more than the first.
Thank goodness I'm used to "sliding" the half hole on oboe because that's exactly what you do on English Horn...that didn't take long to get the hang of either.
The low notes are sooooooo easy to play, all of them.
Vibrato is easier to do on an English Horn.
It's more comfortable to play than oboe because you use more air and don't have to exhale as much.
Anyway, that's what I've noticed so far...I'm sure there are tons of things to learn with technique, breathing, etc., but I was surprised at how it didn't feel that much different than oboe and I can honestly say I can play two instruments now. 
The point of this post? The English Horn isn't scary. Try it as soon as you can.
Thoughts?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-20 23:54
I find it much easier to get around generally, even playing the same oboe pieces on cor is much easier for some reason (possibly due to the lower breath resistance), and the tone can be swelled to fill an entire room without going harsh. And a not too great reed will still play, they're not as picky as oboes when it comes to reeds and will let you get away with murder.
You can have an adjusting screw fitted to the top fingerplate which will allow you to lift LH 1 instead of rolling (which is a common alteration in the UK).
And cor playing will be beneficial to your oboe playing if you want to go for a huge (meaning full, and NOT loud) sound.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dutchy
Date: 2007-12-21 00:33
I still don't get the "fifth lower" thing. Do you finger the same notes as the oboe, but what comes out is a fifth lower?
So if I played "Summer Rain", which is in Ab, on the EH with the oboe fingerings, would it come out as being in Db?
But then how would you play "Summer Rain" along with the band using the oboe part? Would you have to mentally transpose it, and then finger it as though it was in, what, Eb, so it would come out in Ab?
My head hurts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-12-21 01:39
Bingo Dutchy -- you read the oboe music as it is, play it like it is, and it comes out a perfect fifth.
Thus, that is why English Horn music is written in a transposed fashion...no new fingerings to learn. Hence, doubling on it is easy.
It's an awesome instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-21 07:42
Dutchy, to transpose oboe parts (or any concert pitch treble clef music) on cor, play everything up a perfect 5th - you'll soon be able to do this at sight with practice. So written bottom space F will be C a 5th higher on cor.
As a cor is pitched a perfect 5th lower, the music has to be transposed UP a perfect 5th to compensate. You'll also have to add one sharp or take one flat from the key signature, so concert pitch Ab major (4 flats) becomes Eb major (3 flats) for cor. Likewise, concert C major becomes G major for cor. So yeah, 'Summer Rain' in concert Ab will therefore be played on cor in the key of Eb (all up a perfect 5th).
Likewise with oboe d'amore - as it's pitched in A (sounding a minor 3rd below concert pitch, same as an A clarinet) the music has to be written a minor 3rd higher to compensate, so concert G major will become Bb major (add 3 flats or take 3 sharps).
As with all transposing instruments this is done so when you see a cor or d'amore part with a written G, you play G (xxx|ooo) - it saves having to learn different fingerings for each of the instruments in the family so you can go from one to the other easily.
If you get the chance to try out or borrow a cor, don't let the offer pass you by. I only took up oboe with the intention of playing cor.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dutchy
Date: 2007-12-21 13:02
I'll definitely be on the lookout for one, then. Even if it does make my head hurt. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-12-21 13:39
Dutchy,
I know you're a Fox fan. My teacher, though he plays a Loree, says the Fox 500 is the current "Mercedes Benz" of English Horns. He said he's willing to part with his Loree to get one of those...and is steering me in that direction if I decide to get one.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bobo
Date: 2007-12-21 13:43
How can the Fox 500 be the Mercedes Benz when Laubin has an 8 year waiting list that just closed? They must be the Ferrari!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-12-21 13:54
Just my teacher's opinion.... He's tried 'em all. I value his opinion highly.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: wrowand
Date: 2007-12-21 18:49
So... he's willing to part with his Loree, but what, he can't find a buyer?
And yes, the Laubin e.h. is like a Ferrari :-).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
