The bass oboe or baritone oboe is a double reed instrument in the woodwind family. It is about twice the size of a regular (soprano) oboe and sounds an octave lower; it has a deep, full tone somewhat akin to that of its higher-pitched cousin, the English horn. The bass oboe is notated in the treble clef, sounding one octave lower than written. Its lowest note is B2 (in scientific pitch notation), one octave and a semitone below middle C, although an extension may be inserted between the lower joint and bell of the instrument in order to produce a low B♭2. The instrument's bocal or crook first curves away from and then toward the player (unlike the bocal/crook of the English horn and oboe d'amore), looking rather like a flattened metal question mark; another crook design resembles the shape of a bass clarinet neckpiece. The bass oboe uses its own double reed, similar to but larger than that of the English horn.
Etymology
The instrument is known popularly as the "bass oboe" in the English language and "hautbois baryton" (baritone oboe) in French. The bass designation is in resonance with that of the bass flute in the flute family and the bass clarinet in that family: an instrument pitched an octave below the principal instrument of its genre.
A number of concertos (as well as non-concerto works) have been written for the oboe, both as a solo instrument as well as in conjunction with other solo instrument(s), and accompanied by string orchestra, chamber orchestra, full orchestra, concert band, or similar large ensemble.
These include concertos by the following composers:
The Concerto for Oboe and Strings in D minor, attributed to Alessandro Marcello, is one of the most performed oboe concertos in the repertory. It was written in the early 18th century and has become Marcello's most famous work. Bach wrote a keyboard transcription of the concerto.
Attribution
Although the concerto was first published as Alessandro's in the early 18th century, it was grouped with Vivaldi concertos in some 18th century manuscripts and the 19th century first print of Bach's arrangement. One manuscript of the oboe version attributed it to Alessandro's brother Benedetto, and that was how the concerto was known for a large part of the 20th century, but from the late 20th century the concerto is generally again attributed to Alessandro.
The Oboe Concerto in E-flat major is an oboe concerto by Vincenzo Bellini, most likely composed in 1823. Bellini's only surviving concerto, the piece is also an important part of his limited instrumental output. Performances typically last between seven and eight minutes.
Background
In 1819, at the age of eighteen, Bellini received a scholarship to the Conservatorio di San Sebastiano in Naples. He composed the Oboe Concerto during his studies.Gramophone called the piece "a product of his youth". Some other works composed by Bellini during the period included sacred music and fifteen symphonies (six of which are lost). In addition, fragments exist for two other concertos for woodwind instruments composed around the time: a bassoon concerto in G major that remains incomplete and a draft for a flute concerto in A major.
Structure and analysis
The work is scored for solo oboe and an orchestra consisting of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, tho bassoons, two French horns, and strings. It is in one movement with three distinct sections:
The orchestra will perform the West Coast premiere of “Spirit of the Wild,” an oboe concerto that was written in 2016 by Australian composer Westlake... “Westlake’s piece may be the most challenging oboe concerto out there now,” said Underwood.
Fort Worth Weekly
29 Feb 2024
Fort Worth Weekly
29 Feb 2024