OBOE 

• Distinctive sound. 

• Very well-suited for solos and long pedal tones. 

• Penetrating/fixed timbre. 

• The ‘tuner’ of the orchestra. 

• Low register

  1. thick, coarse, and “honky.” 

  2. Used as a special effect.

  3. Notes in this range are difficult to balance (they tend to be quite loud regardless of the specified dynamic). 

  4. Overtones are loud (sometimes louder than the fundamental tone), making it hard to control both dynamically and with respect to intonation.

• Middle register 

  1. The middle register is the most useful and characteristic. 

  2. Here, the nasal, sweet double-reed quality is most apparent.

• High register - 

  1. As with most woodwinds, the timbre in this register becomes less rich in the upper harmonics and takes on a neutral quality. 

  2. The sound is thinner and more pinched in its highest range.

• Dynamic Considerations 

  1. The dynamic curve of the oboe family is opposite to that of most other instruments. In its low register, the oboe is almost too aggressive for ensemble writing. Also, in this register, dynamics softer than mf are not possible. 

  2. •The middle register is more dynamically flexible and balances well with most instruments. Projection in this range is excellent and useful for both solo and ensemble writing. 

  3. In the high register, other instruments can easily cover the oboe. In this register, it blends well with an ensemble.

• Technical considerations

  1. Breath requirements (rests) must be accommodated within the music. Because the oboe requires very little breath, unused reserves need to be expelled.

  2. Although quite agile, the oboe is less flexible than the flute or clarinet. Crisp staccatos, sharp attacks, legato passages, wide leaps, fast scale-like passages, and highly ornamental figures can all be successfully executed on the oboe. 

  3. Single-tonguing is considered the norm for oboes. Although rapid tonguing is possible, double, triple, and flutter tonguings are not considered standard.

  4. Except for the low Bb3-B3 and trills on notes higher than E6, all trills and tremolos smaller than an interval of a 4th are possible.

  5. The oboe makes an ideal solo instrument because of its unique tone quality and ability to stand out. In the proper register, it is a valuable able ensemble member.