Method, Part 2: Progressive Studies - Oboe

Joseph Sellner (1787-1843) played with the Court Orchestra of Vienna and served as professor of oboe at the Vienna Conservatory. He was also responsible for advancements to the mechanism of the oboe, adding extra levers to the B-flat, F and D-sharp keys. Sellner's 13-keyed oboe was the most advanced instrument of his time and became the model for instrument makers in Austria and Germany. It was for this instrument that Sellner wrote his tutor.

First published in 1825, his three volume tutor entitled Theoretisch-Praktische-Oboen-Schule enjoyed considerable success and was subsequently translated to Italian and French. Sellner organized these studies according to the use of keys on the instrument. Each section has exercises addressing specific fingering problems and studies in articulation. It is through the study of articulation that clarity is added to the structure of the musical phrase. Sellner's etudes remain one of the staples of oboe pedagogy. Obvious errors in notation and inconsistencies of articulation have been corrected in this new edition, edited by Valarie Anderson, but in so doing striving to maintain the original intent of the composer.