Author: Critter
Date: 2004-08-31 18:46
Dear Bill,
In the event that you are still looking for an English horn, I wanted to make you aware of the fact that I will soon have a used instrument up for sale. It is a Noblet, made in France. Evidence that I have uncovered lately, and am investigating further, shows that the Noblet and Cabart English horns are one in the same.
A friend of mine in Philadelphia, Pa owns a Noblet english horn. She took it to Louis Rosenblat, the former English hornist of The Philadelphia Orchestra, who was very impressed with it. He said that it played better than many Lorees, and that if she didn't buy it, he would buy it for his students at Temple University.
I have a gold-plated bocal made by Steve Lickman of the Dallas Bocal Company. The Noblet plays so well with this bocal that I am strongly considering including it with the instrument, even though I could probably get more by selling them separately. With the Lickman bocal, this instrument exhibits some extraordinary characteristics.... the third space C is rock solid and does not sag in pitch AT ALL no matter how ppp you get!!!!
The C# right above it is pretty clear compared to most E horns; the Ab just above the staff is clear, resonant, and beautifully, the high notes (between G and C) are quite stable in pitch, and the extreme high notes respond quite easily. These are absolutely extraordinary traits for an English horn of any brand or price to have.
I am in the process of overhauling the instrument at the present time. As far as a price goes, all I can say right now is that one of the famous Oboe Shops has a used (all Noblet E horns are used) Noblet E. horn, priced at $2,575. I do not know anything about it's condition, though, and this is certainly a very important factor. Impressive as the instrument is, alas, it is a Noblet, not a Loree or Rigatout, and will be priced accordingly.
Want to hear a Lickman bocal in action? Go to http://www.dallasbocal.com/gallery.html
and hear Lickman's performance of The Swan of Tuonela.
David Crispin
www.CrispinsCreations.com
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