The Eloquent Oboe: A History of the Hautboy from 1640 to 1760 (Early Music Series) - Tapa dura

Bruce Haynes is to be justly commended for his skill in bringing such a multi-faceted project to fruition ... Given its depth and comprehensiveness, The Eloquent Oboe should serve as the definitive text on the hautboy's history for some decades to come. (Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society)

The Eloquent Oboe is to be commended: it contains more practical information about the early oboe, its music, and its technique than any other single source, and will thus be useful for increasing general knowledge of the instrument and its music and as an encyclopaedic resource. (Cecil Adkins, Music and Letters)

Haynes's study is a major contribution to the history of double-reed instruments. (Cecil Adkins, Music and Letters)

I know of no one with a greater knowledge of the world of the early oboe than Bruce Haynes, and certainly no one who writes about it more eloquently. (Cecil Adkins, Music and Letters)

A comprehensive and thorough history of the instrument in this period ... crammed with information ... no-one should be daunted by the depth of this scholarly presentation. Dr Haynes's text is always readable and enjoyable. This is a book that will be an invaluable work of reference for scholars and for oboists. (The Galpin Society Journal)

... the layout of the book is admirable, and is divided into clear sections allowing for quick and accurate cross-referencing. (The Galpin Society Journal)

Haynes has an abiding fascination with the lives and work of the performers of the period he writes about ... Haynes makes extensive and revealing use of iconographical evidence throughout the book ... very readable. (Early Music)

Bruce Haynes presents such a phenomenal amount of information not only about the instrument, but also about political and social context, performance practice, technique, makers, players, and the music itself, that the book will have a far wider appeal. It helps that it is written in a very approachable style and is coherently organised, so that someone hunting for specific information will not find it at all difficult. (Early Music Today)

Bruce Haynes has already produced two invaluable reference works: his oboe bibliography and his thesis on pitch. This makes a third. Players will obviously need to read it, but it has much to offer all involved in baroque music. (Early Music Review)

The Eloquent Oboe is a history of the hautboy, the oboe of the Baroque period. It reflects recent interest in this instrument, which was the first of the woodwinds to join with strings in creating the new orchestra, and had by the end of the 20th century again become a regular presence on the concert scene. Between 1640 and 1760 this type of oboe underwent dramatic changes in both function and physical form, and the majority of its solo and chamber repertoire appeared. Haynes examines in detail the hautboy's structure, its players, makers, and composers, issues of performing style and period techniques, how and where the instrument was played, and who listened to it.