Here are a couple of pictures of my baroque oboe. What I love about baroque oboe, and period instruments in general, is that I feel a great sense of freedom and openness when playing these instruments. It is as if the constraints of modern orchestra playing fall away and it becomes a more pure music making experience. Though that is just in my experience, I am sure others have different views.

One of the things I love the most about baroque oboe is the sound. I love the lower pitch level as it feels like it settles into 415 rather than walking the edge at 440 or 442 or 444. It just sounds and feels very different to me in a good way. The biggest thing to get used to for me was not the different fingerings but the different embouchure. It is not as “controlled” for me as a modern oboe embouchure. There is also a large difference in the pressure required when blowing. The modern oboe produces much more back pressure and therefore requires more air pressure to play. Where as the baroque oboe is the opposite, less back pressure and therefore requires less air pressure.

There is soo much more to talk about with baroque oboe but this is just the smallest introduction to my oboe and how I feel when I play the baroque oboe. Have fun and enjoy some musical freedom!!