Expert: Mort Rader - 9/7/2005

Question
my name is Annikki, I'm almost 15 years old and I've been playing oboe for 7 months now.  I'm a grade 6 player according to the Australian Music Examinations Board.  I was wondering about the Cor Anglais as I'm interested in purchasing one.  My main concern is the fingering.  Is it the same or different to that of an oboe.  My mum is prepared to buy me one as long as it won't be wasting away somewhere because the fingering is different and i am having difficulty playing it. Thanks

Answer
Hello Annikki ---

I am totally unfamiliar with the music education system in Australia, but I am glad to hear that you enjoy playing the oboe and that you are having success.

The note fingerings for the oboe and the cor anglais (english horn) are identical. However, they can not play the same printed music part -- the oboe is a concert pitch instrument, whereas the cor anglais is a transposing instrument. As an example, when an oboe plays a third space C-natural, the sounding pitch will match that same note played on a piano. However, when a cor anglais plays a third space C-natural, the sounding pitch will match a F-natural played on a piano, four white keys below the third space C-natural. This is why a cor anglais is in the key of "F" (Cor Anglais in F). To take this one step further, for a cor anglais to sound a third space C-natural (concert pitch), it has to play/finger a G-natural, first space above the treble staff.

A cor anglais is longer, larger and heavier than an oboe. I have known oboe players who complain about the size and weight when they have to play a cor anglais. The finger positions on a cor anglais are slightly more spread than on an oboe. The reeds are different for a cor anglais -- an oboe reed will not work on a cor anglais.

The cor anglais is commonly referred to as a "color instrument". Very few compositions for a concert band have a part for cor anglais. I would give a guesstimate that only 15 to 20% of the works performed by a professional symphony orchestra have a part for cor anglais. The music used in public schools will almost never have a cor anglais part. Therefore, it is an instrument that will usually "be wasting away somewhere."

I would suggest that you do not seriously consider purchasing a cor anglais until you are a college/conservatory student who plans to make a career of playing the oboe.

Best Wishes  &  Keep Practicing
Mort Rader