The Oboe (Yale Musical Instrument Series) (Hardcover)

by Geoffrey Burgess (Author), Bruce Haynes (Author) "This book is about the oboe, which we shall define as a conical-bored treble double-reed wind instrument used in western art music..." (more)
Key Phrases: World War, New York, Paris Conservatoire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The oboe, including its earlier forms the shawm and the hautboy, is an instrument with a long and rich history. In this book two distinguished oboist-musicologists trace that history from its beginnings to the present time, discussing how and why the oboe evolved, what music was written for it, and which players were prominent. Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes begin by describing the oboe’s prehistory and subsequent development out of the shawm in the mid-seventeenth century. They then examine later stages of the instrument, from the classical hautboy to the transition to a keyed oboe and eventually the Conservatoire-system oboe. The authors consider the instrument’s place in Romantic and Modernist music and analyze traditional and avant-garde developments after World War II. Noting the oboe’s appearance in paintings and other iconography, as well as in distinctive musical contexts, they examine what this reveals about the instrument’s social function in different eras. Throughout the book they discuss the great performers, from the pioneers of the seventeenth century to the traveling virtuosi of the eighteenth, the masters of the romantic period and the legends of the twentieth century such as Gillet, Goossens, Tabuteau, and Holliger. With its extensive illustrations, useful technical appendices, and discography, this is a comprehensive and authoritative volume that will be the essential companion for every woodwind student and performer.

From the Publisher
Yale Musical Instrument Series

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (March 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300093179
• ISBN-13: 978-0300093179
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #639,825 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding History of This Mysterious Instrument, March 22, 2004

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Burgess and Haynes are both quality oboists and teachers and scholars of the oboe. This work is truly a contribution to the furtherance of the history and interest in this instrument, which has charmed many, but yet remains not as popular as most other winds, likely for its difficulty in mastering.

The book is divided into almost two sections. The first 124 pages deal with the pre-history of the instrument's roots up until the modern era beginning in 1828. After a fascinating discussion of just where the oboe started, the authors surmise that since many wind instruments all claim the aulos and tibia are archetypes, thus doubtful that this was truly ancestor. However, in the Arabic cultures the early shawnlike "zurna" are definitely related, then giving way to the popular hautboys, which gave way to their widespread use in baroque music.

This especially takes off in the era of the seventeenth century with various types and names and styles, regionally located according to materials and composers and performers and craftsmen and trade of ideas/commerce. Then in 1680 outbreaks the French hautboy, which begins to dominate and leads in turn to the now standardized Conservatooire oboe during the Industrial Age.

There is much to be gained from this history tracing, including the match between hautboy maker/composer/musician. Standing out especially and his ties to the modern oboe is Treibert and his Systeme 6 which then was disseminated throughout the world by Gillet's students, especially here in North America. When former Treibert foreman Francois Loree started his own oboe shop enhanced by Gillet's endorsement, this standardized oboe started to dominate, evolving to the now commonplace material of grenadilla.

Along the way the compositions and musicians are featured. Then beginning in chapter 8 which for me is the highlight of the book, the technical capabilities are stretched since WWII. Here is highlighted the giants of the oboe compositions and their performers. Also so poignant is their technical discussion of embouchure, air stream problems, reeds, and "vibrato or not."

The last chapter closes with the two topic discussion of avant-garde techniques and compositions highlighting such as multiphonics, microtonoality, pitch slides, etc., and secondly, return to period instruments of the baroque era especially.

Included are fine detailed notes, a significant bibliography, a compiled discography which is meant to be only representative of the book's discussion, and an adequate index.

This is a fine scholarly work which will certainly disappoint if any reader seeks a beginning intro to the instrument, i.e. should I play oboe, how to start, etc. This is more academic as to the instrument's history, current status, etc. All oboe enthusiasts will continually turn to this fine, thorough and well researched and written resource.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How and why the oboe evolved, April 4, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The collaborative work of Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes, The Oboe adds yet another fine title to Yale's outstanding 'Musical Instrument' series. Following the history of the oboe and providing an in-depth discussion of how and why the oboe evolved, the music written for it, and prominent players, The Oboe is admittedly is a specialty title, but any academic or classical music collection or library reference collection strong in classical history will find this an essential buy, packed from cover to cover with rare insights and information. The Oboe is most especially recommended to students of woodwind instruments in general, and this particular, core component of both orchestral and jazz music in particular.