Double Reeds

The Oboe Family

The Oboe
The oboe is pitched in C, and sounds exactly as written. Its range is rather more limited than
single-reeded instruments. A range of almost three octaves, from Bb below middle C to G two
octaves above middle C, is technically achievable. However, the comfortable range of the
instrument is generally from the D above middle C, up a maximum of two octaves. The oboe is
consistently classified as one of the most difficult instruments to play, owing to the difficult
embouchure (lip arrangement) required to make a sound.

The oboe is a standard orchestral instrument; historical oboe variations have been in use since
the renaissance. It is also a standard instrument in concert bands, and can often be seen in
military bands. However, use outside of this is minimal, except for in chamber music and
dedicated double reed ensembles. There is a large body of concerto work for the oboe, mainly
from the baroque and classical eras, but with a fair amount of modern works.

The Cor Anglais

The cor anglais (or English horn) is akin to the alto flute or clarinet (or the tenor saxophone to
the alto). It plays and reads in the same way as the oboe, but is written a fifth higher than it
sounds (thereby being a fourth lower than the oboe). Although larger than the oboe, the cor
anglais does not bend in the same way as the bass clarinet, and the untrained eye may struggle
to tell the difference from the oboe.

The cor anglais is an occasional doubling instrument in orchestral works, but is rarely seen
outside of this setting. Solo work is very limited. The most notable example is in Dvorak’s
Symphony No. 9 – From the New World13.

The Bass Oboe

The bass oboe is analogous to the bass clarinet. It is written and fingered in the same way as the
oboe, but sounds an octave lower. Usage is incredibly rare, although there are scattered
references. A popular example is in Holst’s The Planets, particularly the solo passage in Mars14.
Another good example can be found in Wicked, orchestrated by Danny Troob and Larry
Hochman, particularly as a decorative effect in Popular15.

A variant on the bass oboe, the Heckelphone, was developed by Wilhelm Heckel on the
suggestion of Wagner. This was manufactured to give a richer tone, but only around 150 have
ever been made.

The Oboe D’amore

A rare variant of the oboe is the oboe d’amore, pitched in A, sounding a minor third lower than
written. The majority are wooden and utilised only in renaissance and early baroque music.
They are most often used by consorts aiming for a historically accurate performance.

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