The roots of the oboe can be traced to over 4000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks played an instrument similar to the shawm. There is also documentation showing the Egyptians playing this instrument. In modern history, the Oboe is a double-reed wind instrument with a wood body and narrow conical bore. It was invented in the 17th century by the French musicians Jean Hotteterre and Michel Danican Philidor, who modified the louder shawm (the prevailing double-reed instrument) for indoor use. Their oboe, called hautbois (French for "high, or loud, wood"), had a narrower bore than the shawm's, a body in three sections instead of one, and a smaller double reed (made from two pieces of bamboo).
The oboe is a non-transposing instrument and has a natural scale of D. Although higher notes are obtainable, the generally accepted range is from B flat below middle C to an octave above G on top of the treble clef.
During the late baroque period, the oboe was used frequently as a solo instrument in chamber music, concertos and cantatas. In the classical era, a pair of oboes were essential for every symphony orchestra, and later composers sometimes required more.
The oboe is a non-transposing instrument and has a natural scale of D. Although higher notes are obtainable, the generally accepted range is from B flat below middle C to an octave above G on top of the treble clef.
During the late baroque period, the oboe was used frequently as a solo instrument in chamber music, concertos and cantatas. In the classical era, a pair of oboes were essential for every symphony orchestra, and later composers sometimes required more.
The Double reed family now includes E flat oboe, Oboe d'amore, English horn, oboe da caccia Hecklephone, Double Bassoon (contrabassoon), Bassoon, Sarrusophone, Alos, Racket, Cutral double, Crumhorn, Shawm (bass), Shawm (tenor)
Nowadays, the sounds of the oboe can be found in modern popular music. On the cover of The Beatles ‘Sargeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band’, Sir Paul McCartney is holding an English horn! Amongst others, R. Kelly, Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Seal, and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir have all used oboes in their recordings. Click here to learn more about Salima's Oboes.