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Re: Just as a rough estimate, how much oboe music is really written in Gb?

Author: jhoyla
Date: 2008-02-12 10:37

Dutchy wrote:

>

Quote:

I keep both my LH Ab and LH Eb pressed together with my
> pinkie finger,

>
> What model of oboe do you have? Or do you just have a really
> huge left pinkie? [grin]

On my oboe (Fox 333), the LH Eb
> requires a "reach way down, over, and around", and the LH Ab
> requires a move in a different direction, a "reach over and
> in". I've run across this tip in either the Gekeler or the
> Belwin method book, and I couldn't make it work then, either.
>

Hmm .. interesting question.

On my current Loree it is harder to do than on my venerable Marigaux Strasser (ca. 1977). On the Loree the LH pinkie G# is set very close to the ring-finger (so much so, I have pressed it inadvertently in the past).

On the Strasser it was easy as pie, since the keys sat right next to each other. Totally underestimated instrument, BTW, especially the older models.

The key that needs depressing all the way is the LH Eb - assuming you have the split E mechanism on your RH ring-finger key. This keeps the E note in tune, even if LH Eb is pressed.

Assuming you can actually reach both keys with your LH pinkie, you should only need to touch the G# key, since it only needs to lift a little to give a clear note. If this is hard to do, you may want to take your instrument to a pro to get the springs balanced.

The G# tone-hole is sprung OPEN, the LH G# pinkie mechanism springs it back SHUT. However, you want to depress this key when it is held closed by your 1st finger RH, so you are working against the full strength of the G# pinkie spring, and this should NOT be difficult to achieve on a well-balanced instrument.

And exercising your hands with squashy balls definitely helps :-)

J.

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