Oboe

: For other meanings of oboe see Oboe (disambiguation).

The instrument

Compared to woodwind instruments such as the flute or clarinet, the oboe is difficult to play and produce a good sound (tone) on. Amateur players often produce a nasal (often out-of-tune) and strident tone that is difficult to blend with other instruments. However, the advanced oboist can produce a rich, warm, and beautiful tone.

Related Topics:
Flute - Clarinet - Tone

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In comparison to other modern woodwind instruments, the oboe has a very clear and somewhat piercing tone, owing to the fact that it emphasizes the odd harmonics.{{ref|autonumber}} Its uniquely penetrating timbre gives it the ability to cut through and be audible over other instruments in large ensembles, making it easy to tune to. Orchestras usually set the pitch (tune) by listening to the oboe playing concert A (earlier 440 Hz everywhere, now only in the United States; in Europe mostly 442 Hz and 443 Hz in Germany). Setting the pitch of the oboe is achieved by changing the position of the reed in the instrument, also by permanently altering the scrape of the reed itself. Subtle changes in pitch are also possible by adjusting the embouchure.

Related Topics:
Harmonic - Timbre - Pitch - United States - Europe - Germany - Reed - Embouchure

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Baroque oboe

The oboe first appeared in French courts around 1650. In the 17th century Jean Hotteterre and Michel Danican Philidor modified the shawm, so that the new oboe had a narrower bore and a reed which is held by the player's lips near the end. Henry Purcell was the first composer to specifically score for it and Johann Sebastian Bach wrote extensively for it. It was the main melody instrument in early military bands until ousted by the clarinet.

Related Topics:
1650 - 17th century - Jean Hotteterre - Michel Danican Philidor - Henry Purcell - Johann Sebastian Bach

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Baroque oboes were generally made from boxwood or fruit wood, with a wider bore and wider reed than the modern instrument, giving it a "creamier" and more clarinet-like timbre. In the Baroque era the oboe had two brass keys, one the C-key and the other the E♭-key. This instrument had no C♯4 nor were there octave-keys. Notes in the successive octaves were reached through overblowing. Notable oboe-makers of that period are the German Denner and the English Stanesby. The range for the Baroque oboe extends from C4 to E♭6. In the 20th century, a few makers began producing new Baroque oboes to specifications from surviving historical instruments, for use in the performance of early music.

Related Topics:
Boxwood - Baroque - Brass - Keys - Overblowing - Denner - Stanesby

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The Classical oboe

Later, in the classical period, the oboe became outfitted with eight keys, among them the so-called G♯-key and the long-awaited octave-key, which allowed the player to play in the higher ranges without overblowing the instrument. The range for the Classical oboe extends from C4 to F6.

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Modern oboe

The modern oboe is most commonly made from grenadilla (or African blackwood) and some manufacturers also make oboes out of other members of the dalbergia family of wood (cocobolo; rosewood; violetwood), or high-quality plastic resin. The oboe has an extremely narrow conical bore. The oboe does not have a mouthpiece like the clarinet or saxophone, instead it has a double-reed consisting of two thin blades of cane tied together on a small-diameter metal tube (staple). The reed is held on the lips. The commonly accepted range for the oboe extends from B♭3 to G6, over two and a half octaves. Together with the flute/recorder it is one of the oldest woodwind instruments.

Related Topics:
Grenadilla - Dalbergia - Cocobolo - Rosewood - Violetwood - Plastic - Bore - Woodwind

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The modern oboe has more than 20 keys, usually silver-plated (rarely gold-plated). The oboe is fingered similar to the flute and saxophone. The modern oboe mechanism is mainly of two types: (a) the French conservatoire system and (b) the English thumbplate system. There is also a combination system whereas the French system has a thumbplate added.

Related Topics:
Silver - Gold

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