 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-09-17 19:41
Attachment: IMG_1309.JPG (924k)
Hello all, new oboist here! I'm wondering if anyone can tell me a little about the key system of this oboe, and point me towards a fingering chart. Thank you!
Post Edited (2006-09-17 21:19)
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-09-17 20:15
...what a great picture, what an interesting 'simple' key system, this looks like a fun instrument to try playing on, do standard modern reeds fit it OK?
What does it have at the back behind the first fingerhole at the top?
How new do you mean, just new to the instrument after coming in from something else with previous musical experience, or completely new to music and it's all a novice's learning curve for you?
Have you tried standard basic oboe fingering on it? Or is that exactly what you need to get started?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-17 23:12
Most fingerings are the same as a Conservatoire system oboe, but here are the ones you'll need to know:
Bb xxo|Bbooo
C xoo|Cooo or oxo|ooo
And for the upper part of the upper register (the lower part is as Conservatoire system with the thumb 8ve key from E up to G# - and without the 8ve key from A up to altissimo Eb):
A xxo|xxxC
Bb xxo|xxxEb
B xox|xxxEb
C oxx|xxo
C# oxx|xooC
D oxx|oooC
Eb xxx|oxxEb or oxxG#|oooC
E 8ve xxxG#|oxxEb
F 8ve xxxG#|xoo
A Vienna oboe fingering chart should work for this oboe.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-09-18 01:19
What sort of wood would anyone say tht oboe is made from? It looks for all the world like my pearwood tenor recorder!
Susan
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2006-09-18 03:09
I have a maple alto recorder that's just about that color, too. You get so used to grenadilla being "THE" wood that you tend to forget that it is possible to make oboes out of other woods. :D
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-09-18 03:37
... um, Chris, am i reading your chart correctly for the altissimo notes, what about the open half-hole?
You've just indicated X for left 1st, so presume this means the plate is pressed down and the hole covered ...?
Or is this oboe overblown?
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-09-18 06:48
Thanks for the information!
I'm a clarinettist, and recently started making the switch from modern to classical boxwood clarinets. There was a breif interval in clarinet history that produced similar type key patterns to this oboe, with the ring system first on the right hand only.
I had a chance to show this instrument to a specialist in baroque & classical oboe, and his reeds fit nicely, although I'm not sure if they are different from reeds for modern oboes. He made a lovely sound on it, but so far I have only a funny duck imitation!
I was a little confused about fingering at the 'top' of the instrument, as I am used to having a hole for the left thumb. Instead there is only the register key, which is mounted on a post to the side and opens on the top, like on older German clarinets. And the pierced key for the 1st finger - does this work like a half-hole for the altissimo?
I too guessed the wood to be maple or pear, and as the maker is primarily a recorder builder, this is not surprising.
Post Edited (2006-09-18 06:49)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-18 08:24
I thought it was boxwood (as Baroque and Classical oboes are usually made from boxwood), but I can't tell from the photo as the resolution is low.
The half-hole plate (½) is for C#, D and Eb on the upper register ('x' is closed, 'o' is open '½' is closing the plate but rolling LH finger 1 down to uncover the perforation):
C# ½xx|xxxC#
D ½xx|xxx
Eb ½xx|xxxEb
Then the 8ve key is used for:
E xxx|xxo
F xxx|xoxEb or xxx|xxFo
F# xxx|xoo
G xxx|ooo
G# xxxG#|ooo
Sorry Joannew, having seen your name on the boards I assumed you were already a player (I know you're a clarinet player, but I assumed you also played oboe).
Here's the fingerings for the low register:
C xxx|xxxC
C# xxx|xxxC#
D xxx|xxx
Eb xxx|xxxEb
F xxx|xoxEb or xxx|xxFo
F# xxx|xoo
G xxx|ooo
G# xxxG#|ooo
A xxo|ooo
Bb xxo|Bbooo
B xoo|ooo
C xoo|Cooo or oxo|ooo
For Bb and C, you have two side keys on the top joint for RH finger 1, the lower is Bb and the upper is C. If you progress well on this oboe and want to specialise in simple systems (and looking for a modern orchestral version of a simple system), maybe think about playing Viennese oboes as used in the Vienna Philharmonic as they have pretty much the same basic fingerings.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-09-18 10:09)
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Author: oboeblank
Date: 2006-09-18 16:17
That is a pretty unique oboe! Can you give us any more information about it?
At first glance, I thought it was a "classical" oboe, but classical oboes do not usually have ring systems or the three key cluster for the right hand, which is similar to the modern oboe.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-18 16:48
It doesn't have a LH Eb or low B key either, and LH 3 fingerhole isn't a double hole (like those for RH 3 and 4 on recorders).
It looks like it's been copied from the oboes from the mid 1800s (before the Barret action for Bb and C was introduced, and well before the thumbplate and the later Conservatoire system that we know today), but with less keywork- only having one 8ve key, and no low B or LH Eb key. Though I'm sure the maker can fit these if you want (without too much trouble) - the Eb and low B lever keys are mounted between the same pair of pillars on the bottom joint (with a lug soldered to the Eb key cup to engage with the Eb lever), and the bell key is mounted on a saddle on the bell and the pad covers the bell vent hole for the low B. And a 2nd 8ve key can also be added, and even a C-D trill key (mounted on the same set of pillars as the 2nd 8ve key) without any alterations to the existing keywork.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-09-18 18:03
Attachment: IMG_1314.JPG (717k)
Attachment: IMG_1308.JPG (951k)
Yes, this is an interesting specimen! Here are a couple more pics.
It's marked Conrad Mollenhauer, Fulda. The Mollenhauer company is still in business making recorders, and goes back several generations - there is a bit of family history on their website.
It also has a funky pear-shaped bell, English-horn style. The chimneys under the ring keys are black, and I can't tell if it is a synthetic insert, or has maybe been coated with something, rather than varnished like the rest. Any thoughts?
Thanks Chris for the fingering info.
Joanne
Post Edited (2006-09-18 18:06)
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-09-19 06:49
wow, those Vienese oboes are stylish, with the little barrel and long bell!
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