Loree Royal Oboe

The oboe presently performed on is a 2004 Loree Royal, QA 27, made of fine African Grenadilla wood. My previous oboe was a Loree, #BG 85, it was purchased through my teacher in the 60’s, John Angelucci. Mr. Angelucci had evaluated four new Loree Oboes for his students in 1961 and for the Chester E. Groth Music Company in Minneapolis, one of which that I was fortunate to have purchased, replacing a 1959 Selmer student oboe.

The Royal oboe is the premier instrument offered by the Loree Company, Paris, France. Constructed of the most premium wood with more heavily plated silver key work, these instruments feature a thicker wood body, dual reinforced tenons, adjustable thumb rest, gold plated octave inserts, and an additional adjustment screw to regulate the height of the C key.

Musical instrument background: Although crude forms of double reed instruments go back thousands of years, the development of the modern day oboe dates back to the 15^th and 16^th centuries. It is the soprano (no relation to the TV series the Soprano’s) of the oboe family made up of the oboe, oboe d’amore and English horn, and is pitched in C.  Its expressive sound is often used to play emotional melodies while maintaining its silvery penetrating sound.

Fossati Oboe d’amore

The oboe d’amore presently performed on is a 2006 Fossati Soliste, #8239, made of fine African Grenadilla wood. Like my Loree Royal it too is an exceptional instrument. My previous d’amore was a 2002 Fossati Artiste, #5173.

The Soliste oboe d’amore is the premium instrument offered by the Fossati Company, Paris, France. Constructed of aged premium wood and has a silver-plated and Rhodium-plated keywork/mechanism (prevents any oxidation). Pads are made of cork, and leather for the lower notes. Tenons are equipped with a double ring to avoid any gaps between joints. The 2^nd octave key is equipped with a stop to protect the pad of the 1^st octave’s key. There is an adjustment to make the low B-flat’s emission more reliable. Several technical advances on the Soliste model by Fossati are great and include: the “Aera” tenon cap to keep water out of the tone holes, the one trill key system to significantly reduce the crack risk,the Philadelphia system, additional precise adjustments on the top joint and an adjustable opening for the A key.

Musical instrument background: The oboe d’amore dates back to around the 1720’s. It is the alto of the oboe family being pitched in A, a third lower than the oboe. The tone sound is mellower than the oboe but brighter than the English horn. Bach was a great admirer of this instrument and wrote quite a bit of beautiful music for it.

Fossati English horn

The English horn presently performed on is a 2006 Fossati Soliste, #8551, made of fine African Grenadilla wood. My other English horn is a pre-1960’s Linton, #Q10480, that was purchased from Tom Stacy in 1964 at the urging of my oboe teacher John Angelucci- very pleased that I did as it had been an excellent instrument over the years but it was time to upgrade to one of the finest, my Fossati Soliste.

The Soliste English horn is another premium instrument offered by the Fossati Company, Paris, France. Constructed of aged premium wood and has a silver-plated and Rhodium-plated keywork/mechanism (prevents any oxidation). Pads are made of cork, and leather for the lower notes. Tenons are equipped with a double ring to avoid any gaps between joints. The 2^nd octave key is equipped with a stop to protect the pad of the 1^st octave’s key. Several technical advances on the Soliste model by Fossati are great and include: the “Aera” tenon cap to keep water out of the tone holes, the one trill key system to significantly reduce the crack risk, the Philadelphia system, additional precise adjustments on the top joint and an adjustable opening for the A key.

Musical instrument background:Why the name of English horn is used for this instrument is somewhat of a mystery as it is neither English nor horn in nature. In 1760 an instrument maker in Bergamo named Ferlandis invented the English horn, also referenced as cor anglais (French for English horn).  It is the tenor of the oboe family being pitched in F, a fifth lower than the oboe. The tone sound is often described as mellow, dreamy, having a rather noble voice andserene.

LoreeRoyal Oboe