Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Explore an Instrument: Oboe
History
Instruments similar to the oboe have been around for many years. Although we do not know much about the history of the oboe, most people recognize the “shawm” as the oboe’s oldest ancestor. This instrument, as well as other double-reed instruments date back to the Middle Ages, reaching the peak of its popularity during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The oboe we know today most likely originated during the 1600’s in France. The French word for oboe is “hautbois” which literally means “high wood”. Early oboes had very few keys, making it difficult to play semitones. Because of this, some scales were easier to play (and tune) than others. This challenge was remedied as more keys were added over the years. By the end of the 1800’s, most of the major improvements had been made; 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 instrument. Because of the extensive work done by François Loreé, French oboes - “conservatoire style” - are now the mainstream type of instrument.
Double reed
One of the really interesting aspects of oboe playing is the importance of our reeds. 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. The vibration of the reed can be quite ticklish for most people when trying oboe for the first time but it does not take long to get used to it! 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 has a tendency to change from day to day. The reed is technically an extension of the instrument and therefore reeds are a major 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. Because each reed is so unique and specific to the player, most oboists make their own reeds. While one can buy pre-made reeds, there are usually modifications that need to be made in order to make it comfortable enough to play on. Reed-making is a skill learned over time and is generally not taught right away. Once fundamentals have been taught and there is a comfort level gained, oboists become more able to artistically create reeds that are best suited for their relationship with their oboe. Beginner students usually buy reeds from their teacher (generally expert reed makers) who can help custom-make reeds for each student.
Questions/Answers
What is the difference between clarinet and oboe?
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 clarinet has a single reed and mouthpiece. The oboe also has a small conical bore (rather than cylindrical).
Does playing the oboe require a lot of air?
A common misconception about oboe is that it uses a lot of air to play. The truth is that due to the very small 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 an oboist while playing. It is just as important for oboists to exhale the old air as it is to inhale. Many other instruments do not need to worry about exhaling, as they expel more air while playing and have less left to exhale prior to breathing in again.
What other instruments are in the oboe family?
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; it has 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.
Why does the oboe play that first note of all performances - the ‘tuning A’?
Everyone who has been to an orchestra concert has noticed that the first thing you will 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 match its pitch.
What does an oboe sound like?
There are many different ways people describe the sound of the oboe. Many musicians agree it is the most pure sounding instrument in the orchestra, and many people also feel it has a beautiful sound. On the other end of the spectrum of opinion there are people like Walter Piston, who in his book “Orchestration”, lists other 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dQjNtp55ZM&t=1s
Schumann Symphony No. 2, movement 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tY7-GXFIk8
Another common opinion is that an oboe can sound like a duck. That 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MglkAYLUwQs
Learn more about Katrina on her Teacher Page.
Instruments similar to the oboe have been around for many years. Although we do not know much about the history of the oboe, most people recognize the “shawm” as the oboe’s oldest ancestor. This instrument, as well as other double-reed instruments date back to the Middle Ages, reaching the peak of its popularity during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The oboe we know today most likely originated during the 1600’s in France. The French word for oboe is “hautbois” which literally means “high wood”. Early oboes had very few keys, making it difficult to play semitones. Because of this, some scales were easier to play (and tune) than others. This challenge was remedied as more keys were added over the years. By the end of the 1800’s, most of the major improvements had been made; 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 instrument. Because of the extensive work done by François Loreé, French oboes - “conservatoire style” - are now the mainstream type of instrument.
Double reed
One of the really interesting aspects of oboe playing is the importance of our reeds. 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. The vibration of the reed can be quite ticklish for most people when trying oboe for the first time but it does not take long to get used to it! 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 has a tendency to change from day to day. The reed is technically an extension of the instrument and therefore reeds are a major 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. Because each reed is so unique and specific to the player, most oboists make their own reeds. While one can buy pre-made reeds, there are usually modifications that need to be made in order to make it comfortable enough to play on. Reed-making is a skill learned over time and is generally not taught right away. Once fundamentals have been taught and there is a comfort level gained, oboists become more able to artistically create reeds that are best suited for their relationship with their oboe. Beginner students usually buy reeds from their teacher (generally expert reed makers) who can help custom-make reeds for each student.
Questions/Answers
What is the difference between clarinet and oboe?
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 clarinet has a single reed and mouthpiece. The oboe also has a small conical bore (rather than cylindrical).
Does playing the oboe require a lot of air?
A common misconception about oboe is that it uses a lot of air to play. The truth is that due to the very small 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 an oboist while playing. It is just as important for oboists to exhale the old air as it is to inhale. Many other instruments do not need to worry about exhaling, as they expel more air while playing and have less left to exhale prior to breathing in again.
What other instruments are in the oboe family?
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; it has 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.
Why does the oboe play that first note of all performances - the ‘tuning A’?
Everyone who has been to an orchestra concert has noticed that the first thing you will 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 match its pitch.
What does an oboe sound like?
There are many different ways people describe the sound of the oboe. Many musicians agree it is the most pure sounding instrument in the orchestra, and many people also feel it has a beautiful sound. On the other end of the spectrum of opinion there are people like Walter Piston, who in his book “Orchestration”, lists other 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dQjNtp55ZM&t=1s
Schumann Symphony No. 2, movement 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tY7-GXFIk8
Another common opinion is that an oboe can sound like a duck. That 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MglkAYLUwQs
Learn more about Katrina on her Teacher Page.