Oboe is the smallest and highest-pitched of the double-reed woodwinds. The name comes from two French words: haut, meaning high, and bois, meaning wood. The oboe is about 21 inches (53 centimeters) long. It was developed in the 1600’s, probably by two French musicians, Jean Hotteterre and Andre Philidor.
The range of the oboe is almost three octaves. The tone is produced by means of a small double reed. Predecessors of the oboe, called shawms, had a raucous, penetrating sound. But today the oboe is known for its smooth and beautiful tone.
The oboe is important in symphony orchestras, concert bands, and small ensembles. Composers who wrote works for the oboe include Ludwig van Beethoven, George Frideric Handel, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The English horn is an alto oboe, a fifth lower in pitch than the oboe.
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