English Horn -> Oboe

So, for two of our concert band pieces, I'm supposed to switch from Oboe to English Horn. Unfortunately, our school doesn't have one. =P. So I have to transpose the music to Oboe. The thing is, it doesn't sound right because I've had to change some octave things because if I would have kept the transposed note, it'd be below the oboe's range.

Should I bring the rest of the English Horn solo up the octave to make it have the same up/down melody, or just keep it as is?

(Second American Rhapsody... i think, by Clare Grundman, and Africa: Ceremony and Spiritual... but i can't remember the composer with this one.)

Well, if no oboe is available, they usually substitute with a muted trumpet, soo...... no English horn, how about a muted trombone or baritone? :P Could bassoon play it?

Ask your band director.

(He probably doesn't bite, but you can never be too careful...)

Yeah, I would agree with RavingSpleen... defer to the band director's judgement.

Musically, it would probably sound better on alto saxophone than haphazardly transposed for oboe.

haphazardly transposed for oboe.

...that makes me feel better. =P

I guess I'll ask.

No offense intended... haphazard is the wrong word for the concept I was attempting to put forth. :/

Oboe and English Horn have the same fingerings right?, just take it up the octave.

Now, that wouldn't work, actually. They don't have the same fingering in that particular sense, the difference between them is not a perfect octave. So to play a G on English horn is a C on an oboe, different fingering. Fingering is really not the problem though, the goal is to best match the tone of the English horn.

If there is no English Horn, sometimes an oboe d'amore (in A) might work, as it can get a couple of notes lower than the common oboe (lowest concert pitch=G# under middle C), and is an effective compromise between the tones of the two more widely-used aerophones (listen to Bach's concerto BWV 1055 , or the "Et in Spiritum" from J. S. Bach's Mass in B Minor). The instrument has a bocal, similar to English Horn. Also, it really isn't too terribly expensive to rent these instruments for a specific concert date if you're really "going for the gold" with a performance.

If his school could get an oboe d'amore, I'm sure they could just get the English horn in the first place. :P

The problem is dealing with what they already have on hand.

If his school could get an oboe d'amore, I'm sure they could just get the English horn in the first place. :P

The problem is dealing with what they already have on hand.

I know. Just my inner Marie Antoinette shining through. :D

=/

Oh well. I've been told to go with down a fifth, and then if it goes below the range, go up an octave for that note. God I wish our school had an English Horn. It looks like fun to play. :(

I can tell you that it is. After doing the full firebird ballet, the cuban overture by Gershwin, and the Ravel Piano Concerto in G, the EH is now my best friend :D

An English Horn will get you jobs. No foolin'.

Oh well. I've been told to go with down a fifth, and then if it goes below the range, go up an octave for that note. God I wish our school had an English Horn. It looks like fun to play. :(

Wow, I wouldn't have expected that answer from a band director, it doesn't sound like a smart thing to do. I agree with Flint, it would be best suited for alto sax to play it. Soo.... you play some notes up and some notes down? That completely messes with the music, you technically aren't playing the right notes then. I would have to kill your band director. :w00t:

*grabs torch, some pitch, and feathers*

Argh, let's git the blimey cur!

K so english horn solos are messed up when you transpose them for le hautbois unless they're very high, in which case you might be able to get away with it. I wouldn't dare. Your best bet is either alto sax, baritone (possibly), or french horn depending on what the director's looking for.

Shotguns anyone?

Honestly its impossible IMO to replace that awesome sound of the english horn with anything other than a member of the oboe family and even still it sounds so much better on the cor anglais. to be honest the concept of symphonic bands make me scream and having an english horn in one makes me even more confused and even more annoying when you have to REPLACE the sounds of an english horn.

worse comes to worse have the horns play it-everything sounds pretty on the french horn-best of luck.

ps. ADOLPHE SAX SHOULD BURN IN HELL FOR INVENTING THE SAXOPHONE!

...Lately though, I'm been just doing the normal transposing, then going up the octave. My music looks really weird now because I have the original thing, then up the octave, and then Clarinet, because my oboe wasn't working on day. O_O

Any, please don't kill my band director. ^^'

Oh no, you dint.

The saxophone is a very lovely, expressive, and agile classical instrument. If you are basing your opinion of the saxophone on jazz saxophonists, that's your fault for not realizing that.

Oh no, you dint.

The saxophone is a very lovely, expressive, and agile classical instrument. If you are basing your opinion of the saxophone on jazz saxophonists, that's your fault for not realizing that.

I was a classical saxophonist for three years. I HATE the instrument with a passion. I feel vehemently that it does not belong in anything in marching bands and NOTHING absolutely NOTHING can replace the sound of an english horn except the english horn.

godspeed matey.

Oh, I agree that nothing can replace the sound of an English Horn. I fully disagree, however, that the saxophone should be relegated to the marching band. Three years is not sufficient time to develop the technique, sound, or concept of an instrument.

We'll have to disagree.

I was a classical saxophonist for three years. I HATE the instrument with a passion. I feel vehemently that it does not belong in anything in marching bands and NOTHING absolutely NOTHING can replace the sound of an english horn except the english horn.

godspeed matey.

Sounds like somebody didn't make All State.

Sounds like somebody didn't make All State.

I'm hoping I will for bassoon. Sax is an instrument that makes me want to kill myself no matter how good the player is. I really can't stand it.

On a side note, how's your problem going sir who started the thread?

I've just been playing the thing up an octave. It works. Thanks for asking lol. I guess you people can hijack the threadmore if you want, I'm not using it anymore. ;)