Anyway, I’m rather involved with a sma local high-school-age orchestra, and the conductor has heard some of my composition, and he wants me to write something for them. I’m thinking this “Ellis Island Symphonette” or somesuch, and I was wondering: can oboes reproduce the UP vibrato that P. Maloney is so famous for? If so, how? Thanks much.
By the way, the orchestra’s at www.harfordyouthorchestra.org
Depends on the oboe/oboist. Best bet is to ask the performer directly what they’re capable of (or their instrument, especially if they’re not playing a modern version).
Dionys
A classical oboist will most likely use chest vibrato.
Granted, it depends a lot on the player and their abilities, but I find chest vibrato is usually much narrower and faster than what finger vibrato produces.
Plus, vibrato on oboe just kinda happens. (Think of it more as a natural occurence in the production of good tone, kinda like a singer)
Therefore, they can taper and change the speed of their vibrato, but not to the degree of control that an uilleann piper can.
However, if you want that same depth and spin to the sound, and you want them to be able to control the rate of undulation, you might be able to have the oboist use finger vibrato.
You’ll probably only be able to do it on notes that are played mostly with the left hand. Roughly f-b in the staff, and f-c above the staff (with use of some alternate fingerings. However, if they’re using their right hand at all, they’ll most likely need to trill with the ring finger on that hand…which isn’t very fun on an instrument that cloistered.
You’re probably going to have to work closely with a player to find out what fingering/vibrato combinations will actually produce vibrato without affecting the intonation/timbre.
Well, as long as the past 3 years as a music education major haven’t been a complete waste… 
Cheers