Description: Vibrato is a slight undulation in pitch. It can also be a variation in intensity of sound. Either way the effect is of a sound that 'wobbles' slightly.
Notation: Written instruction in the music - Vib. or Vibrato. Sometimes with a wavy line just after the note.
Comments: Vibrato is integral to oboe and cor anglais technique, but can also be specifically notated as a special effect. For example, if a composer wants lots of vibrato, they may write Molto Vib. or if a plain sound is required, Non Vib.
clip 1 -
Oboe vibrato.
clip 2 -
Cor anglais vibrato.
Glissando
Description: A slide in pitch between notes.
Notation: The beginning and end note of the glissando are written and connected by either a straight or a wavy line. Usually the word gliss or glissando will be written above.
Comments: Glissandos are more or less impossible on the oboe. A few ascending glissandos may be possible on the cor anglais (not descending), but this is unusual.
clip 1 -
Oboe glissando.
clip 2 -
Cor anglais glissando.
Tremolo or "shake"
Description: a trill or rapid alternation between two notes more than a tone apart.
Notation: thick slanting lines between two notes. The tremolo shown on the left lasts for one beat.
Comments: The more fingers that need to be moved the more unreliable the effect becomes. This is especially true when using high notes.
clip 1 -
Tremolo on the oboe.
clip 2 -
Cor anglais tremolos.
Trills
Description: a rapid alternation between two pitches - either a tone or a semitone apart.
Notation: The example shows a minor trill (semitone) followed by a major trill (whole tone), indicated by accidentals over the note. If these are not given, players will choose a trill type based on musical context. Wavy lines to indicate the duration of a trill are optional.
Comments: On both the oboe and the cor anglais trills do not present a problem in the lower two octaves but higher up the awkward fingerings can make trills very difficult.
clip 1 -
About trills on the cor anglais.
clip 2 -
Double trills on the cor anglais.