Author: heckelmaniac
Date: 2010-08-03 07:50
The "banana key" seems to persist only by strength of tradition.
It was a bad idea on a plateau instrument, and even an even worse idea on a ring system oboe. Ergonomically it is a nightmare as to use it your hands will necessarily be pulled out of position.
I find the that the left C# key is a huge help. Play D, press the left C# key, and voila!- you have C#. And of course you can trill from C-C# with consummate ease. Tom Hinker uses the left C# key for fast chromatic passages as well.
Once you play an instrument with a left C#,
you likely would never wish to put up with an oboe without this key.
Most of the oboists who purchase a Hiniker oboe request the left C#key.
Loree, Howarth, Rigoutat, Marigaux have the left C# as an option.
Retrofitting a left C#key to an existing oboe without it is major and expensive surgery, and very few repairmen have the skill or inclination to take on this task.
With very best wishes,
Peter
Oboes.us
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
