Explore the Oboe
Q: How long have instruments similar to the oboe existed?
A: Instruments resembling the oboe have been around for many centuries.
Q: What is considered the oboe’s earliest ancestor?
A: The “shawm” is recognized as the oboe’s oldest ancestor.
Q: When did the shawm and other ancient double-reed instruments reach peak popularity?
A: They were most popular during the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
Q: Where and when did the modern oboe likely originate?
A: The modern oboe most likely originated in France during the 1600s.
Q: Does the oboe have any other names?
A: The original French word for the oboe is “hautbois,” which means “high wood” in French.
Q: What were early oboes like in terms of design?
A: Early oboes had very few keys, making it challenging to play semitones. Because of this, some scales were easier to play (and tune) than others.
Q: How was the problem of limited keys on the oboe solved?
A: Over time, more keys were added to the instrument, improving its range and playability.
Q: When were most of the major improvements to the oboe completed?
A: By the end of the 1800s, most of the essential advancements had been made.
Q: Who played a key role in the development of the modern oboe?
A: The Triebert family developed and established what we now recognize as the modern oboe. Oboes were being made in both France and Germany at that time, but they were different styles of instruments. Because of the extensive work done by François Loreé, French oboes – “conservatoire style” – are now the mainstream type of instrument.
Q: What makes the oboe’s reed special?
A: The oboe uses a double reed, which is essential to producing its sound.
Q: What is a double reed?
In the simplest of terms, a double reed is two pieces of carefully carved bamboo tied together. When air is forced through them, it causes the two pieces to vibrate together, producing a sound.
Q: What is the sensation of playing an oboe reed for the first time?
A: The vibration of the reed can feel ticklish at first, but players quickly get used to it.
Q: What material is used to make oboe reeds?
A: Oboe players use high-quality bamboo cane to make their reeds. Making reeds from a once-living plant can have interesting implications, as the cane tends to change from day to day.
Q: Why is the reed so important to oboe playing?
A: The reed is technically an extension of the instrument, and therefore, reeds constitute a significant factor in determining how an instrument sounds. The reed defines much of oboe playing; it is responsible for response, pitch, stability, dynamic range, and tone quality.
Q: Who typically makes oboe reeds?
A: Most professional oboists make their own reeds, tailoring them to their playing style and instrument.
Q: Can oboe players buy pre-made reeds?
A: Yes, but pre-made reeds often need adjustments to suit the individual player’s comfort and tone preferences.
Q: When do oboists usually start learning reed-making?
A: Reed-making is a skill learned over time. Beginners typically focus on basic playing first; once fundamental skills have been learned and a comfort level is gained, oboists become more able to artistically create reeds that are best suited for their relationship with their oboe.
Q: How do beginner oboists get reeds that fit their needs?
A: Beginner students often buy reeds from their teachers, who are usually skilled reed-makers and can customize reeds for each student.
Q: What is the difference between a clarinet and an oboe?
A: Sometimes people get confused between the clarinet and the oboe because they look similar. Aside from visual similarity, there is not much else the oboe and clarinet have in common. The oboe has a double reed, while the clarinet has a single reed and a mouthpiece. The oboe also has a small conical bore (rather than cylindrical).
Q: Does oboe playing require a lot of air?
A: A common misconception about the oboe is that it uses a lot of air to play. The truth is that due to the tiny opening of oboe reeds, not much air can go through at one time. This means there is a need for more pressure rather than more air; this results in large amounts of residual or “stale” air in the oboist’s instrument while playing. It is just as crucial for oboists to exhale the old air as it is to inhale new air. Many other instruments do not need to worry about exhaling, as they expel more air while playing and have less left over to exhale before breathing in again.
Q: What other instruments are in the oboe family?
A: The two most common instruments in the oboe family are the English Horn, also known as the Cor Anglais, and the oboe d’amore. Both instruments have sounds that are more mellow than the oboe. The English Horn is pitched a fifth lower than the oboe and is often used as a solo instrument, producing a warm, melancholic sound. The oboe d’amore is pitched a minor third below the oboe and is primarily used in baroque music, often in music by J.S. Bach. There are a few instances in which you would hear oboe d’amore in orchestra music – the most famous example is Ravel’s Boléro.
Q: Why does the oboe play that first note of all performances – the ‘tuning A’?
A: Everyone who has been to an orchestra concert has witnessed that the first instrument you hear before the performance is the oboe. That is because the oboe is responsible for tuning the orchestra. Have you ever wondered why? Most other instruments have various ways in which the player can alter the pitch of their instrument. Because of the structure of the oboe, it does not have very much pitch flexibility at all. Oboists must build that into their reeds. Since it is difficult to change the pitch of the oboe, it makes more sense to have other instruments with more flexibility to match its pitch.
Q: What does an oboe sound like?
A: There are many different ways people describe the sound of the oboe. Many musicians agree that it is the purest-sounding instrument in the orchestra, and many people also find it to have a beautiful sound. On the other end of the spectrum of opinion, there are people like Walter Piston, who, in his book “Orchestration,” lists the different ways the sound of the oboe has been described: “…pungent, tangy, nasal, penetrating, biting, piercing, and raspy.” Although the oboe can create some unpleasant sounds, it is well-known for its expressive and lyrical capabilities; it is often used to depict folk songs and plaintive, soulful melodies.
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Movement 2 – Oboe solo
Shostakovich Symphony 5 – Oboe solo
Another common opinion is that an oboe can sound like a duck. This can be true, especially when played by a beginner! A famous composer, Prokofiev, also thought it sounds like a duck – as we can hear in Peter and the Wolf.
Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf
Interested in learning oboe? Visit our Music Teacher page to find more about our instructors and how they can help you achieve your musical goals.
About the Author
Our Explore Musical Instruments series of articles were written for and contributed to Note-worthy Experiences® Music Studio by current and past music instructors. We appreciate their generosity in sharing their experiences and expertise!
