Oboe
Because its penetrating sound is easy for all musicians to hear, the oboe's distinctive A is commonly used to tune the orchestra.[1][2]
Quick Facts
- Hornbostel–Sachs classification
- 422.112-71
- Developed
- Mid 17th century from the shawm
Facts from the source article.
How it changed
The hautbois was divided into three joints and eliminated the pirouette, differing from its predecessor the shawm.[3] The Classical period brought a narrowed bore and added keys for notes D, F, and G.[4] A "slur key" similar to the modern octave key was added during the Classical period.[4] The Triébert family of Paris further developed the oboe in the 19th century using ideas from the Boehm flute.[5]
The modern standard oboe is most commonly made from grenadilla, also known as African blackwood.[6] Ancient reed instruments from Egypt and Mesopotamia, along with the Greek aulos and Roman tibia, are linked to the oboe's origins.[7] The Triébert family of Paris developed the conservatoire oboe in the 19th century, and further developments to the modern instrument were made by F. Lorée of Paris.[5] Throughout the 20th century, minor improvements to the bore and key work were made, but the instrument's general characteristics have seen no fundamental change for several decades.[5]
What the maker and period sources say
Classic FM notes that the oboe's penetrating sound makes it easy for all musicians to hear during tuning.[2] Yamaha argues that the oboe is the standard for tuning because its pitch is difficult to adjust suddenly on performance day.[2] The Légère Reeds company states that their Classic oboe reeds are designed to respond easily and play straight from the box.[8] Légère Reeds claims their Classic oboe reeds are a trusted choice for players in schools, studios, ensembles, and professional settings worldwide.[8]
According to a repertoire list compiled by Peter T. Hurd, composers Delius, Strauss, and Holst wrote music that includes the bass oboe.[9][10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Why do orchestras tune to an 'A'?", Classic FM (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Why do orchestras tune to an 'A'?", Classic FM. facts only, no text reused. classicfm.com
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Burgess Haynes 2004, p. 27 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Haynes Burgess 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Howe 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Green, "If You Think This Instrument Is Hard to Play, Try Building One", The New York Times, 2026-01-14 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Geoffrey Burgess and Bruce Haynes, "The Oboe", The Yale Musical Instrument series, January 2004, p. 9 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- legereadmin, "Oboe Reeds", Légère Reeds. facts only, no text reused. legere.com
- Wikipedia, "Oboe" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hurd, "Heckelphone / Bass Oboe Repertoire", oboes.us (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Hurd, "Heckelphone / Bass Oboe Repertoire", oboes.us. facts only, no text reused. oboes.us
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Oboe (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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