Hey everyone I`m an amateur oboist. I`m doing my grade 6 Trinity exam soon. Just out of curiosity, does anyone prefer the sound of the English horen to the oboe? Because, the English horn is my favourite instrument (this could also be because I`ve always fancied that register). The English horn is so beautiful and mellow. The oboe is achingly beautiful aswell and can sound very sorrowful or even bright. The oboe d`amore is also a really great instrument. I love the look of the Oboe D`amore and the Eniglish horn. That bell shape is so unique. Anyway, personally, which one of these instruments to you prefer?

Oboe most definitely. The English horn has an absolutely beautiful sound, no doubt. But overall, I think it`s range of expression is limited when compared to the oboe. The English horn does one thing really well, i.e. sound pastoral and melancholy. The problem is everything else it tries to do is colored by that quality, and as such does not come across as succinctly as it does on the oboe.

Since you mentioned the bell, it`s worth noting that the reason the English horn (and oboe d`amore) sound as mellow as they do is a function of the bulbous bell shape. Simultaneously the source of it`s greatest strength and most restrictive limitations.

Also, I always found English horn much easier to play than oboe, but that varies from person to person. The only thing harder about the English horn is trying to keep it in tune; everything else like tone quality, air support, articulation, etc. all seemed easier with that larger reed.

You are correct. The oboe does have a wider range of emotions. But the English horn specializes in one specific emotion and that`s what fascinates me. I agree also that the english horn is easier to play. Does anyone know some good orchestral extracts or other music for the english horn? (besides Tchaikovsky-Romeo and Juliet, and Dvorak-Symph no. 9)

I prefer the oboe ^_~ i luv playing it i think it gives me a happy feeling but at the same time some sort of anger??? oh well i like the obow just out of my opinion go for it.

Hi Joe Sims,
I agree with you about the tone of the cor anglais - wonderful, mellow and distinctive.
As for orchestral repertoire you might be interested in Shostakovich symphony no.8, which has a very generous solo, perhaps the longest orchestral english horn solo yet(?), in the first movement. I would also recommend the Mahler song cycles for some haunting cor anglais action, the Kindertotenlieder and the Ruckert lieder in particular. Just beware of the lyrics though. I think it`s fair to say the poet Ruckert had some serious psychological issues. Well, provided you don`t understand german you should be pretty safe...

Try the following link too, where you`ll find the major orchestral repertoire for oboe and cor anglais listed:-
http://idrs.colorado.edu/Publications/DR/DR9.2/DR9.2.Regist.html

i play oboe for the simple reason that i couldnt afford a cor anglais, which seemed to start at 1500 GBP (thats $2500 US) for a second hand model - theyr impossible to find in my part of england. they both have their good points, and bad points, for example, an oboe can sound rather duckish, and both have very delicate and expensive reeds - oboe reeds start at about 6GBP ($10 US) - my teacher said oboe reeds should last anything up to 2 years but i got through about half a dozen in my first three months (partially from carelssness, and partially from je ne sais pas)! i do not regret my choice to learn oboe, but if given the option i would strongly desire to own a cor anglais, and possibly an oboe d`amour too! and most other instruments of the orchestra (except the flute!!!)

Im only starting to delve into the world of understanding of instruments similar to oboe. Personally, I like Oboes best, because they are the ones I can play best. They can sound mellow too, but its more likely with a wooden one.

Ive also played English Horn a little. Do you have any suggestions of hown to get the low notes out as i cant get below a F. And does anyone know where I can rent a bass oboe affordably, as my Orchestra is playing The Planets, speciafically Mars, which has really cool Bass Oboe and english Horn parts.

Oh cool...what does a bass oboe sound like? Anything like the English horn? What other pieces have bass oboe parts?

It`s all bout the OBOE

I love the oboe, i`m 17, have been playing for six years n just passed my grade 8, but discovered the cor about 2 years ago, so doubtless most of you will have more experience than me. I have however played in a lot of orchestra`s in that time

I prefer soloistic work on the oboe, because, as you said, it seems to have more dynamic range. On the other hand, i love playing cor within the texture of the orchestra, the mellow sound blends gorgeously, and you can get some beautiful harmonies, rather than always being on the top part.
Another advantage to cor is that you don`t actually have to tune the orchestra, which is one of my least favourite responsibilities!

when it came to the bass oboe for mars, we found it was far too expensive to rent a bass oboe for the concert, so instead we had two cor anglais players, and transposed the bass oboe part for cor, putting it up an octave when necessary.
Admittedly it would`ve been far better on bass, but it just wasn`t practical.

Another major symphonic work with a big english horn part is Cesar Franck`s Symphony in d minor.

I quite like Eugene Bozza`s english horn piece, the name of which escapes me at the moment. Of course, the Persichetti concerto is impossible to top.

I like the two equally, actually; a correctly played English horn is lovely. It`s easy for an amateur player to hide behind its forgiving sound, but a professional (Carolyn Hove, for example) can produce a much more beautiful tone and a range of expression as wide as an oboist`s.