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The real practical range (compass) of the Oboe

Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-03-10 01:34

I know that Anthony Baines book Woodwind Instruments and Their History is kinda dated now but below one of his Oboe fingering charts he states this " The top two notes are included for completeness only; they are difficult and composers scarcely ever write for them" These are the top G# and A .Elsewhere (Page 95) he states that both the Germanic and French Oboes go equally well up to the top G.
It's been my practical experience that as far as the top G in concerned, this in not quite correct. In practice , the top G is NEVER an easy and practical not to sound compared to the high notes lower down. The top F# is reasonably easy enough to sound out but the G is a real 'tight' note. This was even so even on the S55c dual system Howarth that I had until recently.
So as far as I"m concerned, the practical range of the Oboe is up to F natural with F# also being reasonably easy but not as easy as F.
I'm heard some Oboists claim that they can get that top G easy without a third octave key, but if that's the case why this 'desperate' need for a third octave key? You'd think two octave keys would be enough.
Here are the fingerings that I use for the top G
< is half hole. - is no TP and Sp is the spatula.
8ve TP xox | xoo (Baines) 8ve -x (+Sp)oo | xoo C (Baines) 8ve - x(+ Sp) ox | xoo
For top F#
8ve - < xo | xoo C (C#) Baines) 8ve TP xxo | xoo C 8ve - xxo | xxFo and also the fingering for F natural plus the LH side key.

Skyfacer

Post Edited (2018-03-10 01:37)

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