Bass oboe

The bass oboe or baritone oboe is a double reed instrument in the woodwind family. It is about twice as large as a normal oboe and sounds an octave lower, so in the tenor range. She has a deep, rich sound and has similarities with the higher pitched cor anglais. It is listed transposing treble clef, the sound is one octave lower than written. The lowest note is a H2, B2 or A2. The mouth piece bend ( S- bend called ) leads from the instrument first by the player off and then leads to the player. So it is similar to a question mark - not like the English horn.

History

The early baritone is more like a bassoon. The Frenchman François Lorée designed in 1889 in the form that we know today. While Frederick Delius was in Paris (late 19th century), the instrument was known. As Delius then returned to England, some English composers interested in the baritone. For some confusion caused another instrument that Heckelphone, which is another example in this register. It was developed by Wilhelm Heckel Bassoon manufacturer in 1904, is further mensuriert and therefore has a more powerful sound than the baritone, which is the English horn similar in sound.

So it is not always clear in English compositions of this time, which instrument is now referred to when the composer wrote a voice for baritone or bass oboe.

A similar instrument, the Lupophon, was developed by Guntram Wolf. He described it as the new bass oboe. This instrument is similar in appearance more like a saxophone and extends to F2. The name is derived from the name of the inventor ( lupus (Latin ) = Wolf).

Solos

The baritone was rarely used as a solo instrument. The so far only for solo baritone is the East Coast of the English composer Gavin Bryars. The work he wrote in 1994 for the oboist Lawrence Cherney Canadian, which a F.Lorée - has baritone.

Robert Moran wrote the play Survivor From Darmstadt, for nine enhanced bass oboe. It was commissioned by the oboist Nora Post commissioned and premiered in 1984.

Further, there are at least a sonata for baritone and piano by Simon Zaleski.

In Gustav Holst The Planets, the instrument is used for special effects, which can be accomplished with any instrument otherwise. From matt sections up to chromatic " explosions " a lot is demanded by the player. The bass oboe is in the first interlude of Sir Michael Tippett's Triple Concerto distinctive sections. Another important solo can be found in the second sentence of Thomas Ades ' Asyla ".

With the improved construction of the baritone, there is also the possibility of quartets in the cast oboe, English horn, tenor oboe, bassoon perform (or other bass instrument such as cello). With this line can be adapted even romantic string quartets.

Manufacturer

The instrument was again produced by different manufacturers. Lorée has issued the instrument as the first and is still the leader in the production. Other significant producers are Marigaux, Rigoutat, Fossati and, since 2011, brothers Mönnig in cooperation with Ludwig Frank by Frank & Meyer Berlin. Mostly it is only made to order, the price is often higher than the case of an expensive English horn.

Chance of double bass oboes were made. But they were never as successful as they are in the same register as the much better known bassoon.