Sarah Davol enjoys a career performing on historical and modern oboes throughout North America and Europe. She performs with Ama Deus Ensemble, American Classical Orchestra, Concert Royal, New York State Baroque, Publick Musick, Sarabande, Vineyard Musicke, the Washington Bach Consort, REBEL and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco. Ms. Davol plays periodically on Broadway, and she freelances in the New York area. Her jazz oboe playing may be heard on TV's Blues Clues (Murmur Productions).
As composer, she is currently working on a piece commissioned for early instruments to be performed at a prehistoric site in North Carolina. Her composition, Wulangundawa'ken (Lenape for "Peace to all People"), recently premiered at the opening of a Peace Labyrinth in the Teaneck (NJ) Creek Conservancy. Ms. Davol's historical oboe playing may be heard on BMG, Centaur, Dorian, Harmonia Mundi, Helicon, Music Masters, Newport Classics, Smithsonian, Teldec, Titanic and Vox.
Q: What is the history of oboe? And what is the major difference between a Baroque oboe and its modern relative?
A: In the Medieval and Renaissance time, there was a oboe-like instrument called the shawm that was quite loud and was played outdoors (or in large spaces) for ceremonies, parades, feasts and dancing. Often five or six of these shawms of different sizes played together. In France, in the late 17th century, instrument makers began to refine the inside (the bore) of the shawm, and added two keys to the outside. Thus the oboe was invented. The word oboe comes from the French “hautbois” which translates as “high wood”. The newly invented 17th century oboe could play more softly, and could blend with other instruments like the violin and flute.
During the Baroque era (1670-1750) composers such as Bach, Handel and Vivaldi wrote volumes of music just for the oboe, more than any other time in history. There were over 1000 solo and chamber pieces for the oboe written by more than 150 composers during the early 18th century! ( continued on page 2... )