 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: hautbois
Date: 2007-12-19 16:21
There does not seem to be a uniformity in our posters' use of terms to describe the different keys and other mechanical features on the oboe. For example, at different times, "first finger" can mean the thumb, as on the piano, or the index finger. Some of the disparity in terminology may come from different countries. Would someone (Chris P?) like to offer a system of referring to the keys, etc., so that we can better communicate with one another about mechanical features of the oboe?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-19 17:26
Just a few things I like to use:
Fingers are always numbered as 1 (index), 2 (middle) and 3 ring). The thumb is usually abbreviated as Th or T. For fingerholes or fingerplates, x is closed and o is open.
Rolling or uncovering the perforation in LH 1 fingerplate (eg. for C#, D and Eb in the upper register) is 1/2 as it's a throwback to the half-hole days (though bassoons and other instruments with fingerholes still incorporate half-hole fingerings).
The little fingers on either hand aren't usually numbered (which would be 4 if they were), but the LH cluster for Eb, low B and low Bb are called the feather keys (or feathers), the RH cluster for low C, C# and Eb are the kidney keys (or kidneys). Other keys are named after the notes they produce (such as the F key or C-D trill).
Octave keys are 8ve1 for the back 8ve (LH thumb), 8ve2 for LH 1 and 8ve3 for the 3rd 8ve (LH thumb again). On thumbplate systems, the thumbplate is released for Bb and C in both lower and upper registers, and usually only referred to if the thumb is off (TH off), otherwise it's held closed for most notes.
So upper register top line treble clef F (F5) is 8ve1 xxx|xxFo with the keyed fingering, or 8ve1 xxx|xox with the forked fingering, or 8ve1 xxx LHF| xxo when taken with the left hand (or long) F key.
Lower register G# is xxx G#|ooo when taken with the LH G# (which is the primary fingering), or xxx|G#ooo when taken with the RH index finger.
When talking trills, give the fingering for the written note and then say which finger(s) can be used to trill with, so an upper register Eb-F trill is 8ve1 xxx|xxxEb and trill with RH2.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2007-12-19 17:34
My first instrument was the classical guitar, and every book from whichever country used p, i,m,a for thumb and the next 3 fingers.
Isn't it strange, given the long history of the oboe, that there isn't an international system for fingers?
Steve
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-19 18:08
It's only the main action on woodwinds that have the xxx|xxx or ooo|ooo (and any combination of both) fingering diagrams, other keys that are operated are named and placed in their appropriate place.
On harp, sometimes the thumb is T (or P in French, with the fingers being 1,2 and 3) or 1 (with the remaing fingers being 2,3,and 4), depending on the editor's preferrence.
Though as far as note names go, be aware that in German-speaking countries B means Bb, and H means B natural. So never say "play Happy Birthday' in B" when doing a joint concert with a German band or orchestra - not that you'd want to be playing in concert B (natural) anyway.
Diagrams with shaded shapes are fine as being instantly recognisable, but we have to make do with what we have in front of us - letters, numbers and a few punctuation symbols that are to hand as it's quicker than using the character map to find half-filled circles and fractions that fit in one space.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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