Cor anglais

The cor anglais, or English horn, is a double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. It is pitched in F, a fifth lower than the oboe (a C instrument), and is consequently approximately one-third longer. Its pear-shaped bell gives it a somewhat more nasal, covered timbre than that of the oboe, being closer in tone quality to the oboe d'amore. As the oboe is the soprano instrument of the oboe family, the cor anglais is generally regarded as the alto member of the family; the oboe d'amore, pitched between the two in the key of A, is the mezzo-soprano member.

Related Topics:
Double reed - Woodwind - Musical instrument - Oboe - Timbre - Oboe d'amore - Mezzo-soprano

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The fingering and playing technique used for the cor anglais are essentially the same as those of the oboe, but the cor anglais is tuned in F, a perfect fifth lower, making it a transposing instrument. Its sounding range stretches from the E (or, rarely, E flat) below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C. It is perceived to have a more mellow and more plaintive tone than the oboe. Its appearance differs from the oboe in that the reed is attached to a slightly bent metal tube called the bocal and the bell has a bulbous shape.

Related Topics:
Transposing instrument - Middle C - Bocal

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