Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[Roseau]

I don't know the Molique. I would think that there are quite a few modern sonatas that might want something other than "ethereal": Howells? Rubbra? Then there's the Martinu and Yano concertos...?

I'm not over keen on the more modern sonatas. He has already suggested the 2nd movement of the Martinu to me but I tried it for a week and turned it down (despite him telling me that he wasn't expecting me to sound like a CD), he has also talked about the Howells but wanted to keep that until he is sure there will be a decent accompanist to play the piano part. I have the Rubbra (picked up cheaply on ebay) but I can't see it really grabs me and I don't know the Yano.

There are several recordings of Molique on youtube if you're interested.

My search for repertoire continues. Now I'm after oboe trios and quartets! Would be easier if we could beg, steal or borrow a cor but looks unlikely. Again, me being the least advanced of the bunch. As usual. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

If you're willing to buy music try Phylloscopus - both courses I have been on have used music published by them. Here's a link to the oboe trios but they also have oboe quartets (with or without a cor)
http://www.phylloscopus.co.uk/spweb/public...?categoryid=392

You could also try June Emerson's website - they have a category for oboe trios and for oboe quartets. And I think (but someone may correct me) that if you can find an arrangement for three identical saxophones they will also work on three oboes.

Otherwise, if you have the Evelyn Rothwell Bach "difficult passages" book there are a couple of trios in there. I'll have a look in my music downstairs later in see if I can find anything else.

And my flatmate wants to know if anyone knows of any works for solo oboe and symphonic wind band. He has found nothing except a Weber piece. There is a soloists' concert coming up and most of the main instruments will be featured in a solo piece, except the oboe because of lack of repertoire. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'm fairly sure a similar question was asked on the oboe BBoard recently - might be worth doing a search.
Edit: Have just remembered that the IDRS site has a whole list of oboe solo + concert band pieces mainly (or exclusively) by American publishers but this is presumably not a problem for you.

[Arundodonuts]

Any suggestions for "non-ethereal music" would be welcome. I had been thinking of the Molique Concertino but am not sure if this is "non-ethereal" enough for him.

Gregson sonata.

[Roseau]

Any suggestions for "non-ethereal music" would be welcome. I had been thinking of the Molique Concertino but am not sure if this is "non-ethereal" enough for him.

Gregson sonata.

Now that's one I don't know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

As I didn't quite know what to play today I decided I'd have another look at the Vivaldi which I haven't played since I started working on my exam. To my surprise it was better than when I last played it. It is far from perfect but bits have definitely fallen into place and overall stamina has increased (obsessively playing two pieces one after the other with no gap between them has obviously had some effect).

[katica]

Any suggestions for "non-ethereal music" would be welcome. I had been thinking of the Molique Concertino but am not sure if this is "non-ethereal" enough for him.

Gregson sonata.

Ah, yes. I'd vote for that too!

Thanks, kerioboe, for your excellent suggestions. I'd forgotten about Phylloscopus, even though I do have one or two of their publications. They're good for lesser known stuff. And it's been a long while since I checked in with the Oboe BBoard, so I'll do that...

Found the IDRS list - that's perfect. Just what the oboists needed!

EDIT: Since writing the above I have another repertoire choice to make: which Albinoni concerto to play in my teacher's annual double reed recital (September I hope but August if I'm unlucky...). I had hoped the double concerto that my flatmate and I tried and looked promising would do but no - it has to be solo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) . I think I will have to choose between Bb (op.7 no.3), D major (op.7 no.6) or D minor (op.9 no.2). Any advice?

FURTHER EDIT (Have I bored everyone off this thread? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ): Albinoni D major it is to be... turns out that the recital is practically an Albinoni recital and the other folks had already picked theirs.

Lesson was a whole hour and a half today... which would have been great if everything hadn't been completely off (including teacher's mood) - sound, intonation, breathing, fingering, muscle memory, biting, etc etc and especially the things I had most practised (where have we heard that before?), so extra especially tense and therefore unmusical into the bargain. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) So it was pretty well 90 mins of TORTURE. What ever made me think I might be able to play this beast! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Followed by two hours of band rehearsal during which things improved very slightly. I didn't escape unscathed but slightly less scarred and bleeding than some. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[flobiano]

Who accompanied your pieces? I'm planning to play at the Stalybridge AL concert and am very lucky to have flobiano on the piano ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ). I'm very nervous, though, and am wondering how we're going to get our act together with presumably a very short practice spot in the morning... Well, everyone who has been through this sort of experience seems to come out very happy with it so I suppose I should just stop worrying...

No need to be nervous Katica, we will definitely get our act together in the morning. It's my job to follow you! So if we don't fit together it will be my fault not yours! It will be fine I'm sure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Sorry you had a difficult lesosn, I think they sometimes go that way, and so often it is the things we have practised the most that sound the worst. So frustrating.

I actually had an enjoyable lesson today but teacher has sent my mind into a bit of a spin by asking if I'd thought about upgrading my oboe to a professional model. I think it was partly prompted by her having another pupil wanting to upgrade to a semi professional who could be interested in buying my oboe, but she also said she thought I was at a level where I'd notice the difference. To be honest I hadn't really thought about it and had assumed that my S45 would last me a few years yet. Really there are other things I could spend my money on, but I did have a go at her model today.....and I could definitely tell the difference.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) It is too tempting..... need to have a good hard think about it.

Kerioboe - Glad to hear you can hear the difference in the Vivaldi, it is always encouraging to hear improvement. Sorry I don't have any other suggestions for an alternative "non ethereal" piece, I've had a look through all my old syllabuses to see if the Dutilleux Oboe Sonata is on any of them, but it only seems to make an appearance at LRSM level.

Pushpull - good luck in your G6, sure the scales will come together in the end. I only know the Jacob pieces (love Limerick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ). Hope all goes well.

[Roseau]

Since writing the above I have another repertoire choice to make: which Albinoni concerto to play in my teacher's annual double reed recital (September I hope but August if I'm unlucky...). I had hoped the double concerto that my flatmate and I tried and looked promising would do but no - it has to be solo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) .

Won't he let you do both? The concert last week was the first one in which I performed only solo pieces. Previously I have always pleaded for a duet with my teacher first in an attempt to settle my nerves.

So it was pretty well 90 mins of TORTURE. What ever made me think I might be able to play this beast! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I'm sure next week's will be better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

No need to be nervous Katica, we will definitely get our act together in the morning. It's my job to follow you! So if we don't fit together it will be my fault not yours! It will be fine I'm sure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What are you playing? I'm sure you'll both have a great time and I wish I could have come too.

I actually had an enjoyable lesson today but teacher has sent my mind into a bit of a spin by asking if I'd thought about upgrading my oboe to a professional model. I think it was partly prompted by her having another pupil wanting to upgrade to a semi professional who could be interested in buying my oboe, but she also said she thought I was at a level where I'd notice the difference. To be honest I hadn't really thought about it and had assumed that my S45 would last me a few years yet. Really there are other things I could spend my money on, but I did have a go at her model today.....and I could definitely tell the difference.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) It is too tempting..... need to have a good hard think about it.

I think if you have the money you should go for it. The XL has made a lot of things easier and when things don't sound quite as I had imagined, I know it is me and not the instrument.

Kerioboe - Glad to hear you can hear the difference in the Vivaldi, it is always encouraging to hear improvement. Sorry I don't have any other suggestions for an alternative "non ethereal" piece, I've had a look through all my old syllabuses to see if the Dutilleux Oboe Sonata is on any of them, but it only seems to make an appearance at LRSM level.

I had found the Dutilleux on the LRSM syllabus too, which was what was worrying me. I took the Molique in today (which is *only* ATCL) and he said he thought it was a good choice... and then decided we would go into the concert room and play it with the piano (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) I pointed out that I had played it through just once to get a feel for it and had done no work on it whatsoever but he was undeterred. I managed the first two pages reasonably well - apart from an ornament which he told me the notes for which had lots of Bs and Cs in it and my brain refused to understand that "si" was "B" and not "C" so I kept playing it back the front (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) His concluding remark (on the two pages) was that it wasn't bad at all and that the only thing holding me back was a lack of confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) .

[flobiano]

No need to be nervous Katica, we will definitely get our act together in the morning. It's my job to follow you! So if we don't fit together it will be my fault not yours! It will be fine I'm sure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What are you playing? I'm sure you'll both have a great time and I wish I could have come too.

We are playing Oblivion by Piazzolla. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I actually had an enjoyable lesson today but teacher has sent my mind into a bit of a spin by asking if I'd thought about upgrading my oboe to a professional model. I think it was partly prompted by her having another pupil wanting to upgrade to a semi professional who could be interested in buying my oboe, but she also said she thought I was at a level where I'd notice the difference. To be honest I hadn't really thought about it and had assumed that my S45 would last me a few years yet. Really there are other things I could spend my money on, but I did have a go at her model today.....and I could definitely tell the difference.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) It is too tempting..... need to have a good hard think about it.

I think if you have the money you should go for it. The XL has made a lot of things easier and when things don't sound quite as I had imagined, I know it is me and not the instrument.

I will certainly be thinking about it...

I had found the Dutilleux on the LRSM syllabus too, which was what was worrying me. I took the Molique in today (which is *only* ATCL) and he said he thought it was a good choice... and then decided we would go into the concert room and play it with the piano (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) I pointed out that I had played it through just once to get a feel for it and had done no work on it whatsoever but he was undeterred. I managed the first two pages reasonably well - apart from an ornament which he told me the notes for which had lots of Bs and Cs in it and my brain refused to understand that "si" was "B" and not "C" so I kept playing it back the front (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) His concluding remark (on the two pages) was that it wasn't bad at all and that the only thing holding me back was a lack of confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) .

Believe in yourself....sounds pretty positive overall (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

Pushpull - good luck in your G6, sure the scales will come together in the end. I only know the Jacob pieces (love Limerick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ). Hope all goes well.

It was Limerick that was putting me off the Jacob. I'm still not too keen but I did want to play Elegy - so I had to take the rough with the smooth.

[Roseau]

I just read this on the oboe bboard in a thread about what sort of personality suits the oboe:

"The story is that a man from an insane asylem took up the oboe and the only thing he had to learn was the fingering as he had everything else already." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[katica]

I actually had an enjoyable lesson today but teacher has sent my mind into a bit of a spin by asking if I'd thought about upgrading my oboe to a professional model. I think it was partly prompted by her having another pupil wanting to upgrade to a semi professional who could be interested in buying my oboe, but she also said she thought I was at a level where I'd notice the difference. To be honest I hadn't really thought about it and had assumed that my S45 would last me a few years yet. Really there are other things I could spend my money on, but I did have a go at her model today.....and I could definitely tell the difference.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) It is too tempting..... need to have a good hard think about it.

I think if you have the money you should go for it. The XL has made a lot of things easier and when things don't sound quite as I had imagined, I know it is me and not the instrument.

Frankly I'm quite surprised, too, that your teacher thinks you need to upgrade, flobiano. I'd also have thought that an S45 would last you beyond G8. When I first tried one at Howarth's I really liked it and immediately noticed the difference with my old Patricola (not at all a bad instrument itself, especially for its level) and it seems to have enough whistles and bells to last a good long while. I thought yours was a lovely instrument too. Though I can understand why your teacher thinks you could now really appreciate and use the advantages of a full professional instrument, if I were in your shoes I'd only upgrade if you find a particular XL or equivalent that really impresses you and you are convinced is a significant improvement when you play it. Beyond the tech specs, there are differences between individual instruments.

But then who am I to say.

I know I bought my XL "too early" to really be able to appreciate it - and I only went into to try out instruments and start to get a feel for what I might want - but I really did fall in love with it. With that particular XL, actually.

As kerioboe says, it's great to have an instrument that's so good that when things go wrong you know it's you and not the instrument. There's a downside to that though - this week I couldn't blame my problems on anything but myself (reed I've never quite liked was deemed to be OK too.) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Still down in the dumps about that actually. Sinusitis and painful ear today prevented getting back on the horse. Praying it goes away by tomorrow.

[katica]

HELP!

I think I might have a problem with the XL.

The problem I am having with the fingering I mentioned over on the tips for scales thread is definitely the oboe, not me. I just got my old Patricola out and could play it on that. I know the XL has different mechanisms but I discovered another problem and I think there may be a problem with my articulated C# mechanism (or something else, I'm not sure).

As I understand it, the articulated C# mechanism out to make slurring low B-C# easy. Well, it doesn't on my XL. In fact it's difficult to get the B out and it sounds stuffy when it comes, with C# still down. It's much easier on my old Patricola (which I didn't even think had that mechanism). Could someone with an XL tell me how it is for them?

The other thing that I can do on the old Patricola but not on the XL - and explains why I can't do the complicated fingering my teacher recommends for the low B-D#-F# arpeggio - is play low C with the LH Eb key depressed. Does it work for anyone else with an XL?

Oh dear, I so hope there isn't a problem with the XL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It works fine for doing normal, straightforward stuff.

[Arundodonuts]

HELP!

I think I might have a problem with the XL.

If it's what I think it is it's a simple adjustment of one vent. The S40 has a similar linkage and I had a similar issue in that the C key had to be held down for bottom B or Bb (it should be possible with just the D closed or C#). I'll have a look when I get home this evening. I wouldn't want to tell you what to do without checking it again first.

[katica]

HELP!

I think I might have a problem with the XL.

If it's what I think it is it's a simple adjustment of one vent. The S40 has a similar linkage and I had a similar issue in that the C key had to be held down for bottom B or Bb (it should be possible with just the D closed or C#). I'll have a look when I get home this evening. I wouldn't want to tell you what to do without checking it again first.

Thank you!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I know my oboe is due for an oiling so I was going to brave taking it apart, check the possibly relevant adjustment screws etc. But I just talked to my oboe teacher and we'll look at it tomorrow.

I've adjusted the Patricola before but have only had to do really minor things on the XL. It's much scarier. I'm such a wuss. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

(In the interim my teacher decided to swap the Albinoni D Major for Handel Sonata No1 in C minor (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . I may still be "allowed" to do first movt of the Albinoni. He said there wasn't much difference in difficulty but from my first run through of the Handel the semi-quaver passages seem much more difficult. Aaaagh.)

[Arundodonuts]

I know my oboe is due for an oiling so I was going to brave taking it apart, check the possibly relevant adjustment screws etc.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) Steady on there.

Right I have oboe in hand. Finger a D whilst you look down the top of the body. Now press the C# key and you will see a vent pop open just in front of the bell joint. Unsurprisingly this is the C# vent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Now whilst fingering C# press the B or Bb key. The C# vent should close - FULLY. Here's how to check if it's closing properly, single handed.

Hold the oboe, keys uppermost, with the bell against your tummy, with the top/middle joint resting in the palm of your right hand. You should be able to operate the B and Bb keys with the right thumb. Depress the C# key with your left index finger to open the C# vent. Press the B key and it should close. You can test it by reaching across with you left thumb to see if it rattles a bit when it is supposed to be closed. If it does, the adjustment screw at the back end of the vent near the bell needs tightening until the vent closes firmly.

If that doesn't fix it - it's summat else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[katica]

I know my oboe is due for an oiling so I was going to brave taking it apart, check the possibly relevant adjustment screws etc.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) Steady on there.

Right I have oboe in hand. Finger a D whilst you look down the top of the body. Now press the C# key and you will see a vent pop open just in front of the bell joint. Unsurprisingly this is the C# vent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Now whilst fingering C# press the B or Bb key. The C# vent should close - FULLY. Here's how to check if it's closing properly, single handed.

Hold the oboe, keys uppermost, with the bell against your tummy, with the top/middle joint resting in the palm of your right hand. You should be able to operate the B and Bb keys with the right thumb. Depress the C# key with your left index finger to open the C# vent. Press the B key and it should close. You can test it by reaching across with you left thumb to see if it rattles a bit when it is supposed to be closed. If it does, the adjustment screw at the back end of the vent near the bell needs tightening until the vent closes firmly.

If that doesn't fix it - it's summat else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Good timing! Lunchtime here over here, so I'm taking an "oboe break" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well I am not quite such an mechanical idiot as I had thought. I suspected last night that that pad might not have been closing quite as securely as it should when using the B key with D/C# and your test has confirmed it.

What is confusing me is that the other problem (C won't sound when the LH E flat key is depressed) does not seem to relate to the same adjustment screw, from what I can work out from the experts (Schuring's adjustment-for-dummies instructions and another oboe guide I downloaded from the web). What are the chances of two separate problems occuring at the same time? Mr Ockham wouldn't like it...

PS. I owe you a beer! Or two. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)