Oboe. Nominal pitch: C.

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Instrument

Oboe

Instrument Family

Wind

Date Made

Circa 1880

Description

Technical description: Built in two sections only with a separate bell. Rosewood with german silver keys. A ferrule at the socket (which is unlined) and the bell ring are also in german silver. The sections are connected by keywork; separating the joints leaves the long axle for the L4 keys attached to the middle section. The ferrule at the socket has a fitting for a music holder. The bore is narrow down to the bell where it flares only slightly, the wood in the bell is exceptionally thick. Simple octave keys. The keywork of this instrument adopts many features of the Boehm flute which adapted to the clarinet but have failed to become established on the oboe. Most notable among these are the larger finger holes and the inversion of the brille mechanism enabling F♯ to be fingered with R2, and F♮ with R1 (as on modern flutes and clarinets). On this instrument F♯ can be fingered with R2 or R3, or using the R3 key. The three rings for the right hand are connected, as are the left hand rings and there is a connection between the two sets of rings so that lowering any of the right hand rings lowers those on the left hand. B♭ and C can be obtained with the R1 side keys as on a normal simple system instrument, but the linkages mean that it is possible to play B♭ with L1 plus L3 or any right hand finger or the R3 key. The C key for L0 operates as a thumbplate; for normal playing the thumb rests on the key and it must be lifted to obtain the C. The vent for the C♯ stands open; the low C key also depresses the C♯. There is a linkage between the low B and low C keys. There is no articulation between R1 and the G♯ key. System: Boehm L0: C; 8.1. L1: P; 8.2. L2: R; Ctr. L3: R. L4: G♯; low B; E♭-alt. R0: sup. R1: R; B♭; C-alt. R2: R; Dtr. R3: R; B♭/F♯-alt. R4: E♭; low C; C♯. Keymount type: pillars. Keyhead type: cup. Performance characteristics: Good intonation and response. The pleasant tone has a contained, almost nasal quality perhaps because of the small bore. Usable pitch: A₄ = 440 Hz.

Notes

S. Milton, 1993.

Measurements

514.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

0073

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