Basic principles of learning the baroque oboe

For modernoboists, starting to play the baroque oboe presents a confusing mix of familiar elements and new elements. With this short manual I want to clear the first doubts that arise when an experienced instrumentalist, who normally comes from the modernoboe, begins to play the baroqueoboe, historicaloboe, hautboy as it would be said in English of the time and obué in old Castilian.

Today it is the Saxon model baroque oboe that has been standardized and extended, but it is not the only thing that has been standardized (equalized, it would be more appropriate): the tuning, the temperament, the fingering, the materials, the way to make reeds (as far as standardization allows), etc. Even though we pretend to, when we play the baroque oboe it’s not sounding like it originally sounded on the s. XVIII; neither we have the same ear, nor the same musical taste nor the conditions around our musical activity is the same.

This manual will help you clarify the first questions you will be asking yourself as soon as you receive your copy of baroque oboe.

Position sheet included.

Guillermo Beltrán Plumed. Editorial Fusagrafia. Edition in Spanish.