Robin writes about the lupophon on his blog, and you can read the wikipedia entry here. And, well, you know me! I had to look it up on YouTube so I could hear what it sounds like (go in to about 1:05 to hear it):
But I still have to ask … what does it sound like?!
The thing about music such as this is that I’m not sure if that’s really how the instrument sounds when played “normally” (can’t think of a better word … sorry!), or if all of this is special technique stuff.
I struggle with a lot of music that sounds like this. I guess it bugs me that I don’t need a good reed, for one thing, and I don’t really even have to concern myself with right and wrong notes. It doesn’t move me in any way, either. I’m not about to say it’s awful music; I don’t feel as if I can judge that. My ears can’t hear it as music, but I was born with 1950s ears. Perhaps some newer ears will hear it differently. Perhaps some other ears find it incredibly moving. Or is it all about the intellectual? I honestly don’t know!
I don’t like tomatoes. Dan has handed me homegrown ones to try, so we can’t blame it on the not-so-great store bought stuff. A few years back he handed me one he had just picked, fresh from the garden, while saying, “If you don’t like THIS, you just don’t like tomatoes!” I didn’t like it. So … yeah … maybe this music is my MusicTomato™.
Here’s another video showing the instrument (at the start of the video):
Anne and I were getting drinks when we heard someone playing it in the room. That “someone” turned out to be Nicholas Daniel who was going to town on it. I think it’s a great instrument in the sense that it certainly resonates and projects better than a bass oboe, and could have a lot of potential for bigger and better solo opportunities!
I played it at the IDRS conference in Tempe.
It has a huge sound, is relatively focused feeling and after a few minutes I felt I could at least have it under control in a week or so.
The keywork is basically French oboe fingerings, but there are three extra keys for each thumb and, at least on the one I played, the octave key was operated by a cable, like a bicycle brake!
I think it has real potential as a solo instrument; there’s so little literature for bass oboe that it probably won’t matter much in that venue.
I just watched the videos and, though the instrument was making those squawks, that’s not at all the impression I had playing it. It felt more like I imagine a contrabassoon must feel and had a distinctly oboe-flavored sound. I speak, now, as a four minute veteran of the Lupophone…
I sure wish someone at the convention had put a YouTube video up of the instrument being played, Bob. You can bet it would have been posted here! :-)
Ooh, I want an instrument with a bicycle brake on it! ;-) (And I want that “brake” to instead by a “wrong note and missed attack remover”.)