Oboe

The oboe is the soprano member of the double reed family of woodwinds. It is not a transposing instrument. The name is derived from the French word hautbois, literally meaning "High wood."

Sound

Oboes have a reedy, almost nasal sound that is often likened to snake charmer's pipes. While a student's sound is often likened to a duck's quack, experienced players produce a clearer, more controlled tone, usually with vibrato. The range is one of the smallest of the orchestral woodwinds, at best extending from the B-flat below middle C to the B-flat three octaves above. On many reeds, reaching notes in the upper register becomes difficult above the highest F in the range.

Notable Pieces for the Oboe

• Britten: Six Metamorphoses After Ovid (Op. 59), Phantasy Quartet (Op. 2)
• Marcello: Concerto in C Minor
• Mozart: Concerto in C Major (K. 314), Quartet in F Major (K. 370)
• Strauss: Oboe Concerto (1945)

Notable Orchestral Soli

• Bach: Cantatas, especially "Ich Habe Genung" (BVW 82)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 (Second Movement)
• Ravel: Le Tombeau De Couperin
• Rossini: La Scala Di Seta Overture