John Price, repertoire for Oboe d'Amore
Harry Humes, poem
Bill Fetcher, service on Stroboconns
Norman Hanson, plastic cap for oboe reed

John Price of West Allis, Wisconsin, another devotee of the larger oboes, found a lot to identify with in Jennifer Paull's recent article. This listing, in the form of a letter to Lowry Riggins, should interest many of our readers. Write to John at 3433 South Wollmer Road, #311, West Allis, Wisconsin 53227.

Dear Lowry,

I loved the letter you received from Jennifer Paull, "A life with the Oboe d'Amore". I also consider myself a specialist, much preferring oboe d'amore, English horn, and baryton (bass) oboe to the usual soprano oboe. Even though I specialize in the larger oboes, I don't mind being called an oboist as the larger one are oboes, but I do like to have the specialty recognized.

Of special interest was Jennifer's playing of the second oboe part of the Beethoven Trio, Opus 87, on the oboe d' amore. I've been doing that for years, having transcribed the part about 20 years ago. I also have similarly transcribed other works for oboe d'amore, and some for baryton oboe. I'm giving you a partial listing thereof in case other IDRS members would like copies of the oboe d'amore or baryton parts. If there's a real interest, I'll make copies and send them to Dr. Prodan and the I.D.R.S. library so they'll be available easily to all the society.

K.H. Graun - 2 Trios (in D and E Major) for Oboe d'amore, French horn, and Bassoon, transcribed for English Hom and Baryton.

Johann Wendt - Variations on Paisiello's "La Moulinan " for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore

F.V. Krommer - Variations on a Theme by Pleyel for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore

Beethoven - Trio, Opus 87 for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d' Amore

Joseph Triebensee - Variations on a Theme by Haydn for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore.

Joseph Triebensu - Trio in F Major for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore and English Hom transcribed for Baryton

Joseph Triebensu - Trio in B Flat Major for 2 Oboes and English Hom, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore

Alessandro Besozzi - Sonata a im for 2 Oboes and Bassoon, 2nd oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore, Bassoon transcribed for Baryton

Franz Poessinger - Trio in F for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d' Amore

F. Moser - Trio, Opus 38 for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for oboe d'Amore, English Hom transcribed for Baryton

Beethoven - Variations on 'Ea Ci Darem" for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe dAmore

Vogt - Andante Religioso for 2 Oboes and English Horn, 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d'Amore

Johann Wendt - Quartetto Concertante for Oboe, Grand Oboe in B Flat, English Horn and Bassoon. Grand Oboe transcribed for both 2nd oboe and Oboe d'Amore, Bassoon transcribed for Baryton.

Beethoven - Quintet for Oboe, Three horns, and Bassoon, Horn Parts rewritten for 3 English Horns, Bassoon part transcribed for Baryton

F.A. Rosetti - Quintet in E Flat for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, English Horn (or Horn) and Bassoon. Transcribed into the key of D for 2 Oboes, Oboe d' Amore, English Hom, and Baryton of Bassoon

F. X. Dussek - Parthia in F for 2 Oboes, 2 Horns, and Bassoon. 2nd Oboe transcribed for Oboe d' Amore, 1st Horn transcribed for Oboe d'Amore, 2nd Horn transcribed for Baryton, Bassoon part transcribed for Baryton (Note: Since the Horn parts are in G and can be read directly on English Horns, there's lots of combinations of instruments possible' with this one).

We've had fun with all of these at our oboe gatherings, and I'm periodically adding new transcriptions. If there are others out there with any of the oboe music and would like the listed transcribed parts, I'll be glad to furnish some.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

John F Price

Editor's note: This poem arrived with a note from the author "Dear Mr. Stolper A young friend of mine, Dylan Savage, whose wife plays the oboe, suggested I send this poem along to you. It has already been published in West Branch, a literary magazine from Bucknell University, Lewisburg Pennsylvania. I do not play the oboe, but the poem is based upon something I observed while visiting Dylan's parents (his father is an old teacher of mine) while Dylan and his wife Susan were also visiting and preparing for a concert together She spent most of an afternoon working on her reeds which astonished me. And also impressed me. ... Harry Humes "

All day I've been up here, breath noisy past teeth, the quilt thrown down or pulled close to my shoulders. I say nothing, will not put on the furlined slippers to walk down the narrow stairway to the kitchen, its whistling kettle and dark bread, the view of bird feeders and pond. My husband comes and goes, whispers things in my ear, his hand over my hair. I tell him of back pain, blistered fingers from making my reeds, hour after hour, trying to get two the same, shaving bamboo just so until the light flows through. It's hard, the weather with its winds against my windows, low pressure and high, damp air up from the river, down the ridge. I know they are waiting; their voices come up through the heating register, doors opening or clicking shut, the spaniel barking to be let out. The oboe waits near the bed. The two reeds float in my hand like scales from a red carp, shining after I've wet them in my mouth. Let the sound they make be steady, the way late afternoon penetrates the orchard below the barn. And those downstairs be moved beyond measure.

Harry Humes' recent books of poems are RIDGE MUSIC 1987, and THE WAY WINTER WORKS, 1990, both from The University of Arkansas Press. He is a recent NEA Poetry Fellow and is the founder and editor of the poetry magazine YARROW He lives with his wife and daughter near Allentown, PA.


Dear Dan:

In the Fall 1991 issue of The Double Reed you published a letter from Robert Simon in which he asked about service and repairs on Strobotuners and Stroboconns. I've since tracked down Peterson Service which apparently acquired leftover stock and parts when Conn was absorbed by King Band Instruments. Their address is:

Peterson Service
105A East Penn St.

Hoopeston, IL 60942 217-283-5161

You may wish to publish this information in a future Double Reed.

Very truly yours,

Bill Fetcher
Box 5032
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477-5032

Dear Mr. Stolper:

I recently came up with an idea which may be of interest to oboe players, especially in the Southwest, where the humidity is very low, and a reed can dry out in a matter of minutes, namely during long periods of tacet, or laying out for several minutes. I found it very inconvenient to keep transferring the reed back and forth between the oboe and the soaker.

I experimented with one of those plastic caps that come with an orchid corsage. The reed fits nicely inside and the open end fits perfectly over the end of the cork. When a lengthy pause shows up in the music, it is very easy to slip the tube over the reed, both protecting it and keeping it moist. Then it slides off, ready for instant playing. The cotton wad can be wet down before playing, enhancing the humidity at the tip of the reed. I hope someone finds this idea useful. It has certainly made life easier for me.

Sincerely,

Norman T. Hanson
132 North Sir George Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89110

Table of Contents