Author: jeremyreeds
Date: 2010-03-31 03:03
Chris P wrote:
>
> Shame ALL oboes, d'amores and cors don't come with the LH C#
> key fitted as standard.
>
That is a solution but I think that the real shame is that the PRESTINI system was never adopted as the standard, it solves all those problems.
The Prestini system has been around for a long time. I picked up an English Horn (Cor Anglais) in Egipt, an antique, I calculate it must be late 1800's / very early 1900's , pre- conservatory system ( must be Triebert's System 4, I guess -I do not want to go get my book-) Bb4/5 and C5/6 are side keys played with RH1 - The low B3 is played with LH thumb; LH pinky can play C#,Eb, and F (this is a second F) , and RH pinky is the regular arrangement C, C#, Eb. By the way, it is an Italian instrument. This system (Prestini) is not very popular but it is still found in modern instruments. I play a Marigaux Conservatory / Prestini System oboe.
At least oboes , English Horns and d'amores should come fitted with the LH C#, as you mention. I have never met anybody that is able to use properly - without difficulties - the Banana key. What an useless key!
I have an old Cabart oboe (with which you can play C5/D#5 trill) which has instead of the Banana key a double low C to be played with the RH thumb; good idea but as useless as the banana.
I agree, at least a LH C# would be useful - less costly than Prestini- but with the Prestini you can also slare (legatto) LowB to Eb, even Low Bb to Eb; these may be something like the trill I mentioned above (C5/D#6), do we really need it? but having alternates for Eb's (D#'s) and C#'s is very practical.
Regards
Jeremias Gramcko
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