Instrument #9?

A clarinet (left) and Bb clarinet (right)

Today I picked up an A clarinet from a friend of mine from WCYO.  She has carpal tunnel and won't be able to play for a while, so I'll be taking over her part.  I'm the only clarinetist of the three of us who doesn't have both a Bb and an A clarinet, so I'm borrowing hers.

The only difference between a Bb clarinet and an A clarinet is the pitch (hence the names Bb and A.)  The fingerings and compass are exactly the same.  But because the A clarinet is longer, it sounds one half step lower.  Occasionally I have to fill in a part written for the A clarinet on my Bb clarinet.  In this case, I have to transpose down a half step.

So why was the A clarinet created if it's almost exactly the same as the Bb clarinet?  A clarinet is easiest to play in keys related to its own.  So, since "A" is a sharp key and "Bb" is a flat key, keys that are difficult for one type of clarinet are easy for the other.  Composers choose the type of clarinet based on the key they want their piece to be set in.  Here's a diagram of some key transpositions between the two clarinets:

Click to enlarge

Orchestral pieces that are written in sharp keys in concert pitch are best played on the A clarinet, and pieces in flat keys in concert pitch are best for the Bb clarinet.  I don't think I've ever seen concert band music that has more than 2 sharps for concert-pitch instruments.

"Aura Lee" on a new reed!

My new reed came on Friday!  Third time's definitely the charm - it's a lot easier to play now.  I still have to get used to a few things.

First, the fingerings are different.  The fingerings for F and F# are switched compared every other woodwind instrument I've played.  Here's a diagram.  Note how F for one instrument is basically the same as F# for the other, and vice versa.

Fingerings comparisons, clarinet vs. oboe.
Diagonal fingerings are almost the same.

Some oboe fingerings also require using the "half-hole."  No other instrument I've played so far has this feature, so I often forget when I should or shouldn't be using it.  However, it's a little similar to the use of the left pointer finger on flute - the notes where you need it are similar.)

Half-hole is in green, fully pressed key is in blue.
Effective because of the hole in the blue key.

Finally, I have to get used to using less air than I do with other instruments.  It's a smaller reed with a smaller opening, and I've heard my orchestra conductor say that oboists tend to store air they don't need.  If I take too big of a breath, it strains my lungs and embouchure and I end up getting a headache.  A little goes a long way with the oboe.

Here's "Aura Lee", first attempt (bad reed) and second attempt (good reed).

History of the oboe

A shawm

The oboe is a direct descendant of the shawm and the hautboy.  A shawm is a six-holed instrument with no keys that produces a very powerful, raucous sound.  It's often associated with ceremonial music and processionals.  During the mid-17th century the shawm became the hautboy, which has eight holes and a completely exposed reed, allowing for greater control, a softer timbre, and greater difficulty to play.

Further changes were made to the hautboy between the 17th and 19th centuries.  (The instrument also found a place in orchestra during this time.)  Over time, it was given a narrower bore, thinner walls, and smaller finger holes.  While this increased agility and produced a quieter, more focused tone, the lack of keys meant it still had inaccessible or different-sounding pitches.  Therefore, the Conservatoire system was introduced in the 1870s.  The speaker key was added, and the instruments became primarily made of African blackwood.

Other members of the oboe family include the oboe d'amore (a "mezzo-soprano" oboe), oboe da caccia (a "tenor oboe"), and cor anglais (more commonly known as the English horn.)  The oboe de caccia has faded away, but the English horn continues to be popular.  It's plays a perfect fifth below the oboe, is slightly longer, and has a round bell.  It's compass is the same as the oboe's: b♭ to f#'''.

The oboe's and English horn's compasses

First oboe lessons

Chip (top) and Stanley (bottom)

I started experimenting with oboe embouchure about two and a half weeks ago since double reeds don't need an instrument to make a sound.  I succumbed to my impatience and bought my first reed from Bethel Music Center... for $17.99.  And then, as soon as I got home, I dropped and chipped it (I wasn't used to opening that kind of case!)  It felt like ripping up a $20 bill.  So I bought another on Amazon for $12 to be safe.  And it's flat and really hard to play.  Oboe lesson #1: reed problems.

An oboe reed's opening should,
unfortunately, be between these two

Oboe embouchure is a lot different than the clarinet's; I'm still getting used to it and increasing my stamina.  I managed to play a Bb at home, but not much else.  After taking a lesson with Allie, I could play a little less than a scale (sort of), but I was still getting used to the reed and forcing air through it.  (It's a smaller reed so you don't need nearly as much air, but the chips weren't making it easy.)  It also needed soaking in water every 5 minutes.  It was a good start.

Two days later, I had a lesson with Mrs. Harvison.  By the end of the period, I could play "Hot Cross Buns fairly successfully, but we decided I needed more reeds since Chip and Stanley (Get it?  'Cause it's flat?)  weren't helping at all.  I ordered another for $11.99.  (So far I've spent $43.87 on oboe reeds.  But let's not think about that.)  I was also pointing the instrument too far down, so fixing that helped me play better.  Overall, needless to say I gave Mrs. Harvison and Mr. Klepacki a good show that day.

Videos and more detailed updates will be coming soon!