Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[katica]

Very sorry to hear about your oboe troubles, floboe and Barry Toner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
I hope they can be sorted out without too much trouble.

I might have to upload a photo. (As you can probably tell, I am quite proud of my emergency oboe engineering skills! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Sounds very ingenious (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I would love to see a photo!

Well, it's well after 1am so I think I won't go downstairs and get my oboe out again for a photo tonight, I'm afraid... It's been out three times already today, and geting on for nearly 6 hours playing, I calculate. I took a long lunch hour to practice, then had an extra long class and straight into rehearsal. Unfortunately, I'm definitely not up to it healthwise and I had bit of a "turn" again in rehearsal and couldn't manage some quite simple stuff.

Didn't stop me getting it out again when I got home, though. My flatmate wanted to look at possible pieces for his exam-recital, so I had a go myself at a few things that I thought he might like that I've just bought. By huge coincidence I also ordered the Harty pieces from Howarths when I asked them for my spare parts. I agree with notmusicmum - very pretty. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) From Forrests (in the US) I also got the Rubbra Sonata. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Notwithstanding an impressive spate of corrections from my teacher, a bit of rather slopping metronome work, and generally getting flustered, my attempts on the Marcello went surprisingly well today, considering. Especially as my long lunch-hour practice had been entirely on technical studies, which we didn't even touch, and I hadn't opened the Marcello for a couple of days. Maybe that was a good thing.

I was slightly taken aback by my teacher insisting on a greatly increased tempo, which threw me out a bit. Crotchet = 76 rather than the Allegro marked on my edition of quaver = 104 (very slow for an Allegro, but then the D minor version has 1st movement as Andante e spiccato). It's not that it's really more difficult faster, and it does indeed seem to "move" better, but my poor old brain finds it difficult to change gear after two weeks of practising differently. I do think the C minor version is a bit harder than the D minor (and I haven't even worked in the ornaments yet), not least because C itself (middle register) is quite the most horrid note on the oboe. On mine at least.

After giving me lots of flak (as usual (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ) my teacher actually acknowledged he was pushing me really hard... because I was playing really well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I wish I heard that more than about once a year! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

I do think the C minor version is a bit harder than the D minor (and I haven't even worked in the ornaments yet), not least because C itself (middle register) is quite the most horrid note on the oboe. On mine at least.

Not just you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Barry Toner]

I have my proper oboe back in full working order!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif)

I got a phone call today from the repair lady saying she had talked to Howarth's and they had said a bore problem was most unlikely as all the tuning would be out (and it isn't). She had tracked the problem down to a weak spring on the Eb vent key which was enough to cause the problem. She had changed the spring, and it was playing just fine. I have just picked it up and the low notes now speak clearly. I now have to explain to my teacher at my lesson tomorrow why I haven't done as much practice as I should have. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[MrsB]

That's good news Barry Toner!

I have naughtily ordered some more music. I totally blame MrB though. He put my oboe concertos cd on in the car this morning and encouraged me to play more from it (although he did tease me that I don't sound quite so musical as the professional oboists on the cd (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ). So I've ordered one of the pieces to have some fun with. It's a grade 7 piece so I suspect I will struggle, but it's such gorgeous music I shall enjoy it nonetheless. Can't wait for it to arrive now!

[Barry Toner]

This week is our next windband rehearsal, so I am looking at the bits of music we are likely to play in our next concert (indoors) in a few weeks time. The MD has said he wanted to do the Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite, so I am trying to get my fingers around the Dives and Lazarus theme at high speed in 4 flats. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

At the last rehearsal, we had a run through a piece of music that has been in the pile since I joined, but we had never played. It is called The Blue and The Gray, and is a medley of American Civil War tunes. One slight problem is that the part is for first and second oboes, and I am the lone oboist! I discovered that the Aura Lee tune is set for an English Horn solo and is eminently playable, even with my few weeks of posessing an instrument. Guess who didn't have the cor with him, silly me! I think it is the only part for the cor in our repertoire (I can't find anything else in the pile), so I will probably take it for the next six months and not use it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) The hardest part in the Blue and the Gray will be counting bars rest accurately, as Kingdom Coming has 37 bars rest; Marching through Georgia has 24 (split in two blocks); Yellow Rose of Texas has 16; The Bonnie Blue Flag has 7, then another 18 bars in which to change instruments, then another 21 bars to change back.

[Roseau]

At the last rehearsal, we had a run through a piece of music that has been in the pile since I joined, but we had never played. It is called The Blue and The Gray, and is a medley of American Civil War tunes. One slight problem is that the part is for first and second oboes, and I am the lone oboist!

Is it one of those editions where both parts are written on the same page? When I was the only oboist I used to chop and change playing whichever part was easiest. I came slightly unstuck when a second oboist arrived and asked me which part I was playing so she could take the other one and I could hardly say to her, "oboe 1 for the first 3 bars, then oboe 2 for the next five, then oboe 1..." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I discovered that the Aura Lee tune is set for an English Horn solo and is eminently playable, even with my few weeks of posessing an instrument. Guess who didn't have the cor with him, silly me! I think it is the only part for the cor in our repertoire (I can't find anything else in the pile), so I will probably take it for the next six months and not use it.

This happens to me all the time. And the day you decide you're fed up of bringing it for nothing will be the day you need it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) The hardest part in the Blue and the Gray will be counting bars rest accurately, as Kingdom Coming has 37 bars rest; Marching through Georgia has 24 (split in two blocks); Yellow Rose of Texas has 16; The Bonnie Blue Flag has 7, then another 18 bars in which to change instruments, then another 21 bars to change back.

Once you know the piece you won't have to count quite so much - you can rely on hearing instead. And 18 bars is luxury to change instruments (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Barry Toner]

At the last rehearsal, we had a run through a piece of music that has been in the pile since I joined, but we had never played. It is called The Blue and The Gray, and is a medley of American Civil War tunes. One slight problem is that the part is for first and second oboes, and I am the lone oboist!

Is it one of those editions where both parts are written on the same page? When I was the only oboist I used to chop and change playing whichever part was easiest. I came slightly unstuck when a second oboist arrived and asked me which part I was playing so she could take the other one and I could hardly say to her, "oboe 1 for the first 3 bars, then oboe 2 for the next five, then oboe 1..." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Yup, one set of music, two parts. We have only run this piece once, so I haven't really decided which part is easier, I just played the top line everywhere.

Another piece we play that has two oboe parts is the Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite, although that is only divided in the third movement. It's just as well we don't have two oboes for the first movement, otherwise everybody else would discover how "approximate" some of my notes are!

[katica]

It's rather quiet around here... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Maybe I'll slink off again and go do some oboe practice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[randomsabreur]

At the last rehearsal, we had a run through a piece of music that has been in the pile since I joined, but we had never played. It is called The Blue and The Gray, and is a medley of American Civil War tunes. One slight problem is that the part is for first and second oboes, and I am the lone oboist!

Is it one of those editions where both parts are written on the same page? When I was the only oboist I used to chop and change playing whichever part was easiest. I came slightly unstuck when a second oboist arrived and asked me which part I was playing so she could take the other one and I could hardly say to her, "oboe 1 for the first 3 bars, then oboe 2 for the next five, then oboe 1..." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Yup, one set of music, two parts. We have only run this piece once, so I haven't really decided which part is easier, I just played the top line everywhere.

Another piece we play that has two oboe parts is the Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite, although that is only divided in the third movement. It's just as well we don't have two oboes for the first movement, otherwise everybody else would discover how "approximate" some of my notes are!

Flute interloper her

Probably not much more approximate than the flutes... Dives and Lazarus is just ridiculously hard. Take it you at least don't have the bat distraction issue (looks out copy of Picc part and earplugs...)

[katica]

Take it you at least don't have the bat distraction issue (looks out copy of Picc part and earplugs...)

Somewhat (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) but we have a REAL bat distraction... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

The community theatre in which I have oboe lessons and wind band rehearsal has bats in the rafters (exposed). There always seems to be a week of accumulated bat guano when I arrive for my lesson. I can just about cope but the smell almost makes my teacher pass out. A couple of time we've had to remove a poor, bewildered little bat scrabbling around on the floor between our feet and music stands... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[louise1712]

It's rather quiet around here... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Maybe I'll slink off again and go do some oboe practice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) yes, I'm still around! Yet to do oboe practice but will get round to it soon. Penultimate lesson on Friday.........

[MrsB]

It's rather quiet around here... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Have been away visiting family this weekend. Made up for oboe withdrawal by listening to oboe concertos and schubert symphonies in the car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

I've just found out that I have to go to Peru on a work trip the week of our salsa gig, our first concert invitation outside of the metropolitan area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Trying to work up the courage to ring my teacher/our conductor and break the bad news. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[katica]

EDIT: Just broke the bad news... and in the meantime, some good news arrived, though not mine. An ex student of my teacher's just won a place in the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Indeed, the only non-North American oboist as far as I can see.

[Roseau]

I've just found out that I have to go to Peru on a work trip the week of our salsa gig, our first concert invitation outside of the metropolitan area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

What a disappointment (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Is there any chance of you being invited to play again when you will be able to go?