Josef Oboes in the USA

Half and Half model US


In collaboration with US oboist Jan Eberle, this is a professional oboe with a top joint made of VIMAT resin and a lower joint and bell made of grenadilla. Many professionals like the “ease” of the resin top joint (eliminates the concern of cracking) and the “bloom” (flexibility) of the grenadilla lower joints. Like the Jan Model, this oboe has the silver-plated Conservatory Key System with all the professional mechanisms.

3rd octave This key rests above the first octave key. On the Josef, it gives clarity of tone to high notes and allows choice of timbre through various alternate fingerings. It also aids high note response.
Left-hand F The Left-hand F Key is located in the left pinky array, above the Low-B, B-flat, and E-flat keys. This key produces identical pitch as the right-hand F key, but facilitates technique and eliminates the need for forked-F.
Low B-flat resonance The low B-flat resonance is located on the bell and opens when playing low B-flat. This keeps the pitch and timbre of the low B-flat in line with the other low register notes
Low B resonance Through careful design, the benefits of the low B-flat resonance are enabled on the low B. This resonance automatically opens when engaging the low B key. Having this combined mechanism produces even tone and intonation between low B and low B-flat.
Trill keys: Low B-C#, This trill is known as the "articulated C# mechanism", which allows low B to be played while pressing the C# key. This is also known as the "Tombeau key," named after the famous passage in the beginning of Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin.   Low C-C#, This key is known as the "banana" key after its shape. It is a curved key located next to the D key that enables the trill of low C-C#.   C#-D#, This is known as the left-hand E-flat key. It produces identical pitch as the right-hand E-flat, but enhances clean technique.   D#-E, This mechanism is known as "split-ring D" because the d key is split into two concentric rings. This split tunes the trill while the left hand D# is engaged. This mechanism becomes critical when playing in keys of 4 or more sharps/flats.   G#-A, This is a teardrop shaped key located above the right-hand G# key that tunes the trill of G#-A.   A-flat-B-flat and A#-B, This mechanism holds down the A key while the left-hand G# key is engaged, allowing the use of only one finger to achieve the trills.   C-C#, C-D With these keys, one finger can execute the trills, elminating the half-hole break.

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