Albrecht Mayer beguiles with the sound of his oboe | with Sarah Willis

Albrecht Mayer, solo oboist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, is a celebrated star. Together with Sarah Willis, hornist with the same orchestra, Mayer presents his particular instrument. The oboe is said to be one of the most difficult instruments to play. Mayer explains what’s special about his playing technique and gives wonderful examples of the oboe’s tone. The star oboist Albrecht Mayer reveals that he loves to touch the audience with the enchanting sound of his instrument. Discover a new episode of Sarah’s Music and learn all about the oboe!

Sarah Willis is a British-American French horn player. In 2001, she joined the Berlin Philharmonic, becoming the first female member of its brass section.

She was born in Maryland, USA and grew up in Tokyo, Boston, Moscow and London. At age 14 she started playing French horn and then attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department in London, UK. She studied full-time at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK.
In 1991, she moved to Berlin, where she became Second Horn in the Berlin State Opera under Daniel Barenboim.

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[codswallop]

I can confirm from personal experience it is a staggeringly difficult instrument. You pull one with one of part of your body and push with another as hard as can, while trying to keep relaxed and "be musical". I have maximum respect for professionals who can do this well!

[coreenevers]

Circular breathing ftw! My son's teacher told him it makes people in the audience nervous when you do it for too long so to use it wisely. He is 2.5 years in and the dying duck sound is already long gone. Herr Mayer is one of the first oboists he watched on YouTube, including some masterclasses in the first week LOL, when he brought the instrument home. Watching my son and given how oboists speak of their instrument, I think once the oboe grabs you as an instrumentalist it never lets go, and neither do you.

Practice, seek out knowledgeable teachers, practice, research, practice, listen, and practice and then practice a whole lot more. It'll be so worth it.

[alyoshaproductions]

It's so funny how he pointed out that you can't play an oboe outdoors and have a beautiful tone--cue to the overdubbed outdoor performance of Bach's Siciliano... :P

[PeterFritzWalter]

Can you imagine the effort, his face gets red all over when he plays … what a wonderful devotion to music, what a wonderful soul, I am very touched...

[handsomejustin]

The oboe is #1 instrument of the decade, millenniums and forever in my heart!!! <3 <3 <3

[urmorph]

Absolutely lovely video. That bit about circular breathing blew me away--doing all of "Jesu, Joy" in one breath, or rather in one uninterrupted line! And such a beautiful sound; perhaps the word "plangent" had to be invented just to describe the oboe. Herr Mayer certainly disproves the old saw that the oboe is an ill wind that nobody blows good. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Thanks much for posting.

[SomeoneWithAName]

I’m the only oboist in my school- and let me tell ya, I’m the dying duck that pops up every now and then during a song

[colleensdan]

'You need a space for sound to resonate' then plays on top of a roof sounding gorgeous...

[TheAnnaFisher]

Congratulations, it has been my mission to make oboe a household name. Glad to know it is #1 in 2017.

[ge]

first ten seconds: what a weird oboe...

[Clarisaxx]

I like how there's just a contrabassoon and bass oboe in the background and no one says anything about those in the comments. it's very sad the bass oboe wasn't featured in this along, along with the English horn.

[sabsmcdabs]

I learnt to play the oboe at school and love the sound of it. Unfortunately i haven't played for decades but would love to pick it up again watching these videos

[Eunannos]

Enjoyed this -always enjoy Sarah & Company !!! 😀

[brynjarhoff-lrhw]

I have tried to write to You Albrecth Mayer. You are the greatest oboeist to day. Regards from collega..
Brynjar Hoff

[Mooslerherzog]

Was für ein sympathisches und ehrliches Video mit großartigen Musikern!

[nomorebushz]

When the conductor has reverence for the oboist, I have been referred to as maestro before. It is absolutely wonderful that when your oboe is being played well, how much adoration comes your way.
But of course we still never get paid enough :-)

[Lizerator]

Oh my gosh, my favorite instrument is the oboe, thanks for this

[rrfirefly]

This was the instrument I always wanted to play. Since the eighth grade, when our school started its music program. It didn't happen due to the cost involved. Now, when I see the skill required to play the oboe I wonder if I would have (could have) succeeded. I will never know. Yet I still think of it as my favorite instrument.

[adelinaarmstrong]

How ironic that I started the oboe this year when it's actually the instrument of the year...

This is really what I want to do with my life. I don't want to waste my life scribbling numbers on endless papers, I want to make music that moves people.

P.S. I want this man to teach me his ways. Call me a try hard if you want to.

[shannonwittman]

Marvelous!!! I found your Youtube channel while researching for a screenplay which I'm writing here in the USA that directly involves the oboe. The things I have learned in this brief episode, and Mr. Mayer's friendly and professional explanation, give me great joy and enthusiasm for my story idea. Thank you!!