English Horn

Oboe family

Copyright (c) 2010 Robert Hinchliffe

The modern oboe is the result of centuries of development - although that development is still going on. The oboe earliest date from at least five thousand years. Over the ensuing years, they have undergone many changes and developments.

It was in the 16th and 17th centuries when the oboe as we know it really began to develop. The baroque oboe was at that time, often referred to as the "Oboe" from the French "High Wood" high sense of wood. This Hoboy became corrupted and that the name evolved modern oboe.

The beginning of the first oboe evolved mechanisms with only simple three additional keys for little fingers. This was developed further, first, the seven-key and the key instrument of ten William Triebert in the early 19th century. The mechanism of the oboe continued to grow thanks to the contribution of these makers that Boehm, Barret and others. Since that time, instruments have become gradually more and more keys with most players today with what is usually considered as a complete system of Gillet.

In addition to the oboe itself, there are 3 main instruments of the oboe family, the oboe d'amore, English Horn Bass and oboe. All are transposing instruments and have their origins in the instruments of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The oboe d'amore (oboe viola in A) has been widely used at the time of JS Bach and it is in the performance of his works that we usually encounter this member of the oboe family today.

The cor anglais or English horn (tenor oboe in F) developed from an instrument called the Oboe di Caccia. The origin of the name English Horn is a bit of a puzzle that the instrument is not English, it is not a horn. We find this particular instrument in the law through the orchestral writing Baroque to the present.

The Bass Oboe (C, transposition of an octave) is the lowest of the oboe family and is derived from a double reed instrument called early heckelphone. The bass oboe is rarely used, but do arise in scores of Richard Strauss and the famous play Holst's "Planets".

The oboe family is closely linked to the bassoon has a similar but much larger, double reed. Both instruments also have a bore conical. The sound of oboes and bassoons playing together is especially good with the sounds blend so naturally.

The sound of oboe is one the most distinctive of all the instruments of the orchestra. This is a sound quality that is consistent throughout the oboe family of instruments although the instruments have a lower slightly softer sound than the oboe itself.

About the Author

Robert Hinchliffe is a professional oboist, guitarist, composer, teacher, conductor and music director. If you have found this article of interest, more information about playing the oboe is available at
http://www.oboeplaying.co.uk.
Robert's main website can be found at

http://www.hinchliffe-music.com.

Patricola S3 English Horn $6625 Patricola S3 English Horn

Vandoren English Horn Reed $29.99 Vandoren English Horn Reed

Orchestral Excerpts for English Horn $16.64 Orchestral Excerpts for English Horn

Bulgheroni Artist Model English Horn $8999 Bulgheroni Artist Model English Horn

F. Loree Paris English Horn $11199 F. Loree Paris English Horn

Fox Model 510 English Horn $6649 Fox Model 510 English Horn

Fox Model 555 English Horn $5299 Fox Model 555 English Horn

Marigaux Model 930 English Horn $8450 Marigaux Model 930 English Horn

Blayman Oboe / English Horn Pegs $32.99 Blayman Oboe / English Horn Pegs

Altieri Oboe / English Horn Bag $99.95 Altieri Oboe / English Horn Bag

Stuart Dunkel English Horn Reed $24.99 Stuart Dunkel English Horn Reed

Concert For Strings & Flute & English Horn $17.99 Concert For Strings & Flute & English Horn

Concert for Strings, Flute and English Horn $16.61 Concert for Strings, Flute and English Horn

Post : Concerto For English Horn; Mello $17.15 Post : Concerto For English Horn; Mello

Sonata for English Horn and Piano $19.95 (English Horn and Piano). By Paul Hindemith (1895-1963). Schott. 20 pages. Schott Music #ED3672. Published by Schott Music

English Horn Concertino in G $21 "By Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848). Edited by Meylan. For English Horn, Piano. Reduction Score. Published by Edition Peters"

Solos for the English Horn Player $18.99 "(with Piano Accompaniment). Edited by Stacey Thomas and P Thomas. For english horn solo and piano accompaniment. Woodwind. Classical. Difficulty: medium to medium-difficult. English horn solo book. Solo part, standard notation and piano accompaniment. 64 pages. G. Schirmer #ED2988. Published by G. Schirmer"

Bam Trekking Oboe / English Horn Case $272 Bam Trekking Oboe / English Horn Case

Bam X Light Oboe / English Horn Cases $315 Bam X Light Oboe / English Horn Cases

Horn Concerto (Marriner, English Co, Aosmf, Tuckwell) $6.49 Horn Concerto (Marriner, English Co, Aosmf, Tuckwell)

Serenade For Tenor, Horn And Strings, Nocturne (English CO) $5.49 Serenade For Tenor, Horn And Strings, Nocturne (English CO)

19th Century Masterpieces For Oboe & English Horn $12.36 19th Century Masterpieces For Oboe & English Horn

Parable for Solo English Horn $7.95 "(Parable XV). By Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987). For English Horn Solo. Solo part. Standard notation. Opus 128. 3 pages. Duration 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Published by Theodore Presser Company"

Trio for 2 Oboes and English Horn in C Major $27 "By Joseph Triebensee. English Horn, Oboe Ensemble. For 2 Oboes, English Horn. Set of Parts. Published by Edition Peters"

English Horn Concerto $17.95 "(For English Horn and String Orchestra). By Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987). For English Horn Solo, Piano. First performance by Thomas Stacy and the New York Philharmonic, November 17, 1977, Eric Leinsdorf conducting. Solo part with piano reduction. Standard notation. Opus 137 A. 28 pages. Duration 20 minutes. Published by Theodore Presser Company"

Stradella English Horn Reed Medium $19.99 The Stradella English horn reed is hand-crafted by Larry Allen who hs been making English horn reeds for over 40 years. He was a professional English horn performer in Connecticut for 20 years including 14 years with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. The quality cane he uses gives the English horn performer a deep chocolate-like sound with a very relaxed ease of response in all registers and at all dynamic levels. The window-like design in the back of the reed creates the stability and focus every performer is looking for.

Variations on Amazing Grace for English Horn and Organ $25 By Calvin Hampton. For english horn and organ. Difficult. Published by Wayne Leupold Editions

Trio in Bb Major for 2 Oboes and English Horn $24.75 "By Joseph Triebensee. Edited by Myslik. English Horn, Oboe Ensemble. For 2 Oboes, English Horn. Set of Parts. Published by Edition Peters"

Patricola S3 English Horn Grendilla $6625 The Patricola English Horn represents a solid value. Each Patricola English horn is hand crafted in Italy and made to very exacting standards. Players will also benefit from the added Bb extension.Grenadilla wood body. Full conservatory system Includes: case & cover / 2 bocals / care products.

Hodge Cotton English Horn Swab White $10.99 White cotton, designed for the bore of the English Horn. Will not pull through or go too far into the top joint of the instrument.