Albrecht Mayer beguiles with the sound of his oboe | with Sarah Willis

[@codswallop321]

I can confirm from personal experience it is a staggeringly difficult instrument. You pull one with one of part of your body and push with another as hard as can, while trying to keep relaxed and "be musical". I have maximum respect for professionals who can do this well!

[@GreenAppleee]

I wonder what will happen if you blow into the reed

[@jeesedm]

Blow too hard and too much, and it goes *crack*

[@codswallop321]

Jesus Christ Yep, and if your embouchure (lips) is too loose it sounds dreadful, and too tight, no sound comes out at all...

[@thejils1669]

I play both the oboe and bassoon at the professional level (obviously with different organizations). I can tell you unequivivally that the bassoon is an infinitely more difficult instrument to play. Bassoon deals with the same reed and embouchure challenges, more difficult breath control (you have to be able to support a STABLE wind stream through roughly an eight foot column of pipe to insure perfect pitch intonation), with or without circular breathing, and some crazy fingerings, including "forked" fingerings in BOTH the right and left hand, especially in the tenor and beyond registers, pressing up to 9 (yep...count 'em) keys with the left thumb and 4 keys with the right thumb - all while playing some incredibly difficult passages at break-neck speed, since you most likely are doubling the strings (look no further than the overture to "The Marriage of Figaro") in many sections of any given score. Yep...bassoon is probably one of the most difficult - if not THE most difficult - instrument to master!

[@emilytreads]

@@jeesedm your reed is not soaked enough. This had never happened to me & I've been oboeing for 17 years. Soak your reeds!

[@coreenevers9950]

Circular breathing ftw! My son's teacher told him it makes people in the audience nervous when you do it for too long so to use it wisely. He is 2.5 years in and the dying duck sound is already long gone. Herr Mayer is one of the first oboists he watched on KZbin, including some masterclasses in the first week LOL, when he brought the instrument home. Watching my son and given how oboists speak of their instrument, I think once the oboe grabs you as an instrumentalist it never lets go, and neither do you. Practice, seek out knowledgeable teachers, practice, research, practice, listen, and practice and then practice a whole lot more. It'll be so worth it.

[@daviddownes248]

The Dying Duck sound may be gone ... but not forgotten . 😀

[@handsomejustin]

The oboe is #1 instrument of the decade, millenniums and forever in my heart!!!

[@benoitbordeaux1692]

Yellow river concerto

[@vra4432]

Justin Liu is oboe better than clarinet ?

[@shonix123]

@@vra4432 yes! Give me 1 weak and i play clarinet. Give me 5 years and you wont end of learning your oboe 's sound!

[@PeterFritzWalter]

Can you imagine the effort, his face gets red all over when he plays … what a wonderful devotion to music, what a wonderful soul, I am very touched...

[@yishihara55527]

No, it just looks that way.

[@JustFiddler]

i can't imagine sorry

[@urmorph]

Absolutely lovely video. That bit about circular breathing blew me away--doing all of "Jesu, Joy" in one breath, or rather in one uninterrupted line! And such a beautiful sound; perhaps the word "plangent" had to be invented just to describe the oboe. Herr Mayer certainly disproves the old saw that the oboe is an ill wind that nobody blows good. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Thanks much for posting.

[@alolana]

We played jesu joy at our last concert but it was adapted for middle school band but my frikin pvoe still hurt my untrained baby face

[@EmanueldeCarvalho-uy4ok]

Hola Sabe usted cómo se llama la pieza de Bach que suena a partir del minuto 7,22? Un saludo cordial.

[@alyoshaproductions]

It's so funny how he pointed out that you can't play an oboe outdoors and have a beautiful tone--cue to the overdubbed outdoor performance of Bach's Siciliano... :P

[@SomeoneWithAName]

I’m the only oboist in my school- and let me tell ya, I’m the dying duck that pops up every now and then during a song

[@jadyn7003]

relatable af my band teacher takes out all the oboe solos from a peace cause I sound so bad

[@Skitdora2010]

Because I was the only oboe player I had private lessons and when we played in the band I had no idea I was the only one playing when I was because I assumed flutes were playing which I never heard even when I knew they were playing. It took the performance anxiety off. Other people had to tell me when I had the solo as I never could tell.

[@Josh-lf8qi]

The conductor calls me a duck plus my school band only has 3 oboists

[@emilytreads]

@@Josh-lf8qi 3 is a lot, bit your conductor is a terrible person for telling you you sound like a duck! I'm so sorry you've had to deal with such a discouraging teacher

[@emilytreads]

@@jadyn7003 these terrible teachers ... Smh. How are you supposed to improve if you're not supported? I'm honestly a little mad right now.

[@colleensdan]

'You need a space for sound to resonate' then plays on top of a roof sounding gorgeous...

[@ericli3887]

It’s dubbed over by his own studio recording

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Congratulations, it has been my mission to make oboe a household name. Glad to know it is #1 in 2017.

[@BellaCDLilly]

The oboe, one of my favourites instruments. That's why I did covers with this beautiful sound: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4vLgJ-DhtWChpo kzbin.info/www/bejne/lV7TZmaOmc6Yo80

[@TheAnnaFisher]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ6sfIivitd-opY

[@cocosoloco4932]

I play oboe and I'm only 11

[@charlizemontero309]

+Jr Navarrete me too I'm 11 to I love my oboe it's so peaceful for me

[@ilsevandelden111]

Anna Fisher Sibelius

[@Clarisaxx22]

I like how there's just a contrabassoon and bass oboe in the background and no one says anything about those in the comments. it's very sad the bass oboe wasn't featured in this along, along with the English horn.

[@Clarisaxx22]

iRaspBerry Pi same

[@alolana]

The whole reason I started playing oboe is because I fell in love with the sound of English Horn in fifth grade and I asked my band teacher about it (who’s my favorite teacher btw) and she said we don’t have English Horn in our band but the closest thing is oboe so I was like ALRIGHT CLOSE ENOUGH LETS DO IT XD

[@nomorebushz]

Sax How many times have you ever performed that had a bass oboe in it?

[@kaistaunton4689]

Where are my fellow Oboists!?

[@emilybishop6186]

Kai Staunton *i stoped playing but I still love it tbh*

[@noblecarpenter6970]

Don't you mean clarinetists?

[@hi_im_random_person1068]

Hi

[@zenitsuagatsuma4942]

Kai Staunton mee i play oboe

[@spheyuh]

Kai Staunton HAIIII

[@Eunannos]

Enjoyed this -always enjoy Sarah & Company !!! 😀

[@sabsmcdabs7139]

I learnt to play the oboe at school and love the sound of it. Unfortunately i haven't played for decades but would love to pick it up again watching these videos

[@nomorebushz]

When the conductor has reverence for the oboist, I have been referred to as maestro before. It is absolutely wonderful that when your oboe is being played well, how much adoration comes your way. But of course we still never get paid enough :-)

[@Mooslerherzog]

Was für ein sympathisches und ehrliches Video mit großartigen Musikern!

[@mathiastietke7094]

Wunderbar begründet und zugleich sehr charmant. Beide! :-)

[@dwnews]

Glad you liked it :-) Out of courtesy to our other users though, please post comments in English: www.dw.com/en/dws-netiquette-policy/a-5300954. /ph

[@yogidas108]

OmG

[@shannonwittman950]

Marvelous!!! I found your KZbin channel while researching for a screenplay which I'm writing here in the USA that directly involves the oboe. The things I have learned in this brief episode, and Mr. Mayer's friendly and professional explanation, give me great joy and enthusiasm for my story idea. Thank you!!

[@dwnews]

Shannon, many thanks for your lovely comment. We're glad you enjoyed the episode :-) /ph

[@tomaszsmol3920]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, thank you

[@engdev8]

Wow, Albrecht your playing is amazing! Truly inspiring! I've always wanted to the play the oboe, but I have no one to teach me and oboe is difficult to self teach. I have some basics from a teacher a few years ago but that's about it, since then I've played sax and forgot everything about breathing, etc. I practice sometimes but get so exhausted from breathing your technique might help me!

[@rr7firefly]

This was the instrument I always wanted to play. Since the eighth grade, when our school started its music program. It didn't happen due to the cost involved. Now, when I see the skill required to play the oboe I wonder if I would have (could have) succeeded. I will never know. Yet I still think of it as my favorite instrument.

[@ge200099]

first ten seconds: what a weird oboe...

[@noblecarpenter6970]

I saw this comment, now I love u my dawg. Just made my day

[@yunahkwon6204]

ge200099 LOL

[@Lizerator]

Oh my gosh, my favorite instrument is the oboe, thanks for this

[@ambroisekirin5236]

Ah! I never learned to circular breathe; if I start playing and taking lessons again, that's the FIRST thing I have to learn! I love Mayer's recordings and I have so much more appreciation for Mayer's sound after watching him play. So much effort goes into his silken tone.

[@brynjarhoff-lr6hw]

I have tried to write to You Albrecth Mayer. You are the greatest oboeist to day. Regards from collega.. Brynjar Hoff

[@largolegato]

Love the sound of oboe. Wish I had learned to play it.

[@JohannaA.5013]

Nice! Please, do an episode about Cello and Bassoon.

[@grandpasandwich7740]

Eduarda Johanna Alfena I think sarah will make a video for the instrument of the year only.

[@adelinaarmstrong9423]

How ironic that I started the oboe this year when it's actually the instrument of the year... This is really what I want to do with my life. I don't want to waste my life scribbling numbers on endless papers, I want to make music that moves people. P.S. I want this man to teach me his ways. Call me a try hard if you want to.

[@that_oboe]

I started last year and I feel the same way!

[@cmw12]

Not ironic, coincidental. Good luck on your musical journey!!! Understand now that you will eventually need to make/adjust your own reeds. This will require significant amounts of money and time. Kids don't realize that. I probably wouldn't have started the oboe if I'd known. It's a gorgeous instrument though, and the world needs more oboists!

[@zacharysmith923]

I play French Horn and oboe, its quite a task but its so wonderful

[@Jack-ei3mh]

I like how she's holding the oboe completely wrong and he doesn't bother to fix it lmao

[@Guil1974]

She is really ridiculous, with that silly smile pasted on her face.

[@Jack-ei3mh]

No, she's fine. I think she's an amazing person and she's not ridiculous, she's just never done it before. I was commenting more on how the experienced person didn't bother to fix it.

[@JoshuaHickin]

@@Guil1974.... you really have no idea who she is, do you?

[@tanneursquarante-cinq6621]

@@JoshuaHickin no, no effing idea. She is exasperating and offensive.

[@jasontravis6677]

She is so nice to listen to though lol

[@renelesieux1250]

Super Albrecht , please to see you all my best

[@janetmckenzie146]

Gorgeous playing, gorgeous oboe. Circular breathing! Some flute players (like Jasmine Choi) can do this as well.

[@zebra3stripes]

Crap, I've still been writing Year of the Bass Trombone on all my checks.

[@joeboei]

Wow best comment of the year

[@olavipasanen4471]

8:32-10:37 is Cantata BWV 12 instead of BWV 147 as it says on the video

[@nelle2506]

At my school we are deemed the "hot boys" Because apparently oboe in French is spelled h-o-t-b-o-y-s but the funny thing is that the three of us are all girls..

[@leocadieux6781]

Nelle In fact it’s « hautbois » in French 🤪

[@lesliefranklin1870]

With both the oboe and French horn you can greatly change the tone of a note with your embouchure. This makes these instruments closer to singing than other instruments.

[@stephenagar72]

Wonderful, funny and sublime. I only wish I could play anything near Albrecht Mayer's standard.

[@Android_Warrior]

Not only the instrument is very hard to learn but very expensive too.

[@AndreyRubtsovRU]

Yeah! Hidas Concerto! Bring more of it, what a fine music.

[@theclimbingchef]

So I tried to learn guitar during covid and as an oboist, I'm stumped. Just sold the guitar, lol!!!!

[@WilfriedBerk]

Waiting for the Grand Prix de la Clarinette ... / Wann kommen mal die Klarinetten dran ?

[@thejman3489]

I made up a solo at the beginning of this year. When my band went to a competition we had just finished performing and went back to the gym where all the bands, including ours, had left their cases. Everyone put their instruments away and went to watch another band. I decided to play the solo in the gym before I put it away, just because I love to play my oboe. I had no idea that anyone was listening until I finished and got a few claps and someone gave a short cheer. I looked up to see a few students and a teacher looking at me. Not gonna lie it felt pretty good. I have since recorded it and uploaded it to my KZbin channel for those that want to hear it.

[@shwab7971]

0:26-0:29 is how I play oboe first year

[@simonk6177]

Then you must be really good. It took me around 3 years to get there lol

[@kaistaunton4689]

Same

[@EN-id9xz]

I’ve been playing for 3 years and I’m still like that yikes

[@that_oboe]

At least 3 months for me of that noise

[@curlypyro1134]

Me too

[@lourdesfreitas9512]

Congratulations to all of you! Bjs from Brasil Maria Freitas ❤️❤️❤️🙏🌿🇧🇷🇧🇷🌿

[@DWClassicalMusic]

👍

[@JuJiMeNeZ1]

The most beautiful instrument definitely ❤👏🎼🎶🎵, Grettings from Costa Rica!!

[@botdog370]

Judith Jiménez Viola or Cello then again personal preference :)

[@JuJiMeNeZ1]

Ren, well, I play the Oboe, if I played viola or Cello, I think I would also think that instrument is the best, however, only the fact that the Oboe is the most complex instrument of the wind instrument family make it the best and most wonderful instrument to me. Don't you? It tuned the orchestra with his LA. It carries the melody. It does amazing music solos. It sound is exquisite. And it is very very difficult to execute and perfect. I think it's enough to make it the best. The family of violins is definitely beautiful, I have no problem in recognizing it. ;) Pd: Sorry my English isn't very well.

[@botdog370]

Judith Jiménez Haha, don’t worry your English is perfect, way better than people who actually speak English. Also I completely agree on your statement the oboe is a beautiful instrument.

[@JuJiMeNeZ1]

Ren Haha, thank you so much! So we are in the same tuning ( or sintony) right now ;)

[@roger.cabrera]

Yup the oboe is difficult, but sounds so beautiful. I'm happy to hear that you play the oboe. I want to congratulate you for doing that. And as a French Horn player, i understand how difficult an instrument can be, especially the oboe.

[@malcolmdale]

According to James Thurber , the Oboe is "an ill wind that nobody blows good."

[@Nerd-bo2tw]

Malcolm Dale 😱😱😱😱😱😱 f him

[@andrewfeazelle]

Circular Breathing: I was talking to an old film music orchestrator years ago about synth sounds replacing real players, and he told me a story about how Paul McCartney once arrogantly stated, 'Can a woodwind player do this?' as he pressed a key down to hold a synth note for an extended period of time (longer than what he thought would be the lung capacity of a player). Guess he never heard of circular breathing, or the idea of not writing past the performer's limitations to garner a natural sounding composition.

[@huge-jaj.mp4834]

What's the piece at 8:40? I checked bach bwv 147 but I can't find what Albrecht is playing 🤔

[@nagrao4076]

Very wonderful heart touching nice to,listen and be happy

[@HammSamwich]

sarah willis the queen of LIFE

[@me-artist7016]

Very fresh to watch, one question if i may ask, how many oboe player in orchestra? Thank u

[@ericli3887]

Depends on what piece you’re playing: if you’re playing Mozart then sometimes 2 sometimes 1 sometimes none, for Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky etc usually 2. If it’s stravinsky or Mahler then maybe 4 or 5

[@me-artist7016]

@@ericli3887, Tank u so much for your time and the informative answer, that was exactly what i was thinking of.

[@Skitdora2010]

When I learned oboe in school I used to substitute hard notes for easy ones that sounded similar, and the music teacher didn't notice...but then she got pregnant and a new teacher came who knew I was cheating, and he made me relearn those easy notes I had switched out for the harder ones. It was really hard, but all the private lessons (only oboe player) really made me a better player and it got easier. Just lots of practice, the finger stretches for the high notes stopped hurting after awhile.

[@andantecantabileandantecan4147]

Now I know this is going to sound strange..... but I can circular breath with a bong.

[@tom_something]

Next step, turn an oboe into a bong.

[@laraplokhaar1817]

I would like to say that oboe is harder because you have to make your own reeds!!!

[@tmdsb2655]

Lara & Grainger well u don't have to...

[@laraplokhaar1817]

TMD SB store bought reeds suck! And buying them from a maker still doesn't make them right for you.

[@zoralewis4357]

So do bassoonists.

[@hermanntrox676]

Unglaublich und unglaublich schön!!! 🙂

[@nagrao4076]

Beautiful explanation nice demo

[@josejose-ok8tu]

Grandioso. gracias DW

[@konkilee450]

watching angels playing oboe wonderful music

[@ivanperez3308]

What was the songs name at 0:30 it's very beautiful!!!! 🎶

[@dwnews]

My Art, the insert says "concerto for oboe and orchestra"/ fab

[@ivanperez3308]

DW English thank you 😊

[@masonpitman533]

What kinda title is that? All instruments are great when played well

[@HaraldReinhart]

Fantastic musicians both of them! When it comes to 'circular breathing', I am not so sure that Albrecht M. is correct when he says that it was already known and practiced in the old days. If anybody has documentation of it, please leave a comment - thx

[@luisfarfan5130]

My dream to play, the only valid sound of my own voice and my deepest feelings! I should make my own wooden Oboe, and tune it with the soul of virtuoso players like Albrecht Mayer. Thank You, all!

[@realhighduck]

I nearly died she almost stuck it all the way down her throat when she tried the oboe

[@rezende2024]

Very Nice !!!

[@associazionemusadistefanog2058]

Wonderful

[@grievingflowers]

PLEASE ANSWER ME WHAT MUSIC IS PLAYING IN THE BEGINNING

[@voli293]

I play alto sax and want to switch to oboe and I hear they are pretty similar in terms of keys. Think I have what it takes?

[@tracielindquist605]

Go for it. I know lots of folks who play both. You could learn flute too! I can play all three, and a tiny bit of clarinet, too!

[@kittyaparicio9754]

i play the oboe its cool!

[@sukanyaathma7391]

I am going to start to play the oboe in June 2018

[@Vakti892]

What kind of wind instrument was played in the intro?

[@izzyisdizzy5847]

Necati Van an oboe but played by a novice

[@jrseahorse5886]

0:26 wow they are really attacking me 😭 I just got mine and The only thing I have been practicing besides doing scales and practicing tone is trying to play swan lake they really just took a recording of me 🥲

[@defner.9251]

Wow such a bad luck, however I'm pretty sure you developed your playing so don't mind about it

[@bushyconn]

Circular breathing os not new. It has been used by Australian aborigines whist playing the didgeridoo for many centuries. And what a wonderful sound that can be!!

[@ropmy947]

bushyconn it's not circular breathing; he is pointing out the fact that we have to breathe out as we do not get to get rid of our air by playing. The only thing here is that he is doing it while playing, what not all are able to do...

[@ursthomann3463]

well, that is not entirely true either. In fact both is correct. Due to the small amount of air that can be pressed through the mouth piece, one needs to exhale because one would otherwise suffocate dispite still having a lung full of (oxygen depleted) air. But then one needs to inhale again. So, in fact, it is circular breathing but in both directions. One would be surprised how easily the basic principle can be learned. However, the difficulty really is that while all the ex- and inhaling activity happens a constant air pressure at the mouth piece is maintained such that the sound of the instrument remains well controlled. There are not many oboists who master this technique in such perfection as Albrecht Mayer.

[@mackenziebrown9518]

What was the song around 8:15 ?

[@dwnews]

It is the 'Siciliano' from the 'Sonata in Es-dur' (BWV 1031). /ml

[@danamarta7803]

Albrecht the Angel.

[@818Dimples]

Where can I get 1 of those T Shirts?

[@michaellasfetto5810]

I would love to know how he holds it so that his hands don't hurt. When I play oboe, my hands are in a ton of pain, and not the kind where you're uncomfortable and you'll get used to it kind.

[@stella1571]

내가 숨막혀 죽을것 같은....으으으윽...... Amazing!

[@reinierbakels3990]

Sarahs command of the German language is stunning!

[@joabeplacedino4201]

Are there any possibilities of coming to Brazil one day?

[@StarshipTrooper4231]

French horn and Oboe is two ridiculous awesome instruments.

[@michaelrollo9177]

sarah verdi used the oboe in many of his operas especilly in the opera aida

[@ruthlau9182]

I think the last solo he plays in the video is actually the Sinfonia from BWV12 instead of BWV147.

[@supertjx]

11:15 Sarah almost swallowed the mouthpiece! :D

[@MrFancyFingers]

Wow, that piece at the end...

[@chknuggie]

yay hautboi family!!!!!!!!!!

[@jordyndowdy565]

I LOVE MY OBOE!

[@paulchristofi9034]

I want that t-shirt!!!!

[@pilarpaco6569]

Oboe recuerda a música de la infancia

[@sjt4225]

Sarah is so beautiful. What a wonderful host/musician.

[@megamediker]

This is the best way to learn not to eat mouthpeaces. Lovely Sarah!! ;-)

[@NNNNNNNNNNNNNNl]

As both a violinist and an oboist, I can assure you that the violin is much more difficult to play than the oboe for several reasons including the wider range.

[@turtleking3579]

I play the oboe and it's kind of hard but with a lot of practice i can an every one who plays the oboe will become very good on there instrument

[@mr.thickey1820]

"Ach du lieber, mein schatz"! Wundabaa, und gesundheit!! Pass da saurbrauten und veinerschnitzle poleaze!!!

[@reggie4694]

I just realized I've been doing circular breathing without even having knowledge of what it is lmao

[@krysztof6917]

Every instrument is hard in their own unique way. You can't just say that one is harder than another. It may be hard in a certain way that other instruments it isn't a problem on.

[@jamalrey7066]

Call it what it is: Circular breathing. By the way other woodwind musicians also utilize the technique. It is not endemic of just the OBOE.

[@rothschildianum]

That is it, I changed my mind once I saw that we need to do circular breathing!!

[@JulienJeagal]

Been playing oboe for 2-3 years and used to play clarinet, I can say that circular breathing on oboe is a lot easier than other instruments

[@GoA7250]

That was impressive.

[@alolana]

The first “wrong button” sounds like me when I try to play XD people always tease me about how I suck and my band teacher once told the whole class that oboe was one of the hardest instruments to play XD so take that aLl YoU hAtErZ

[@idkmyname3114]

the bassoon????

[@lucasrojers336]

All these people talking about how their school has 2-3 oboists... but im the only one at mine XD.