Oboe
The
oboe is a woodwind instrument with a double-reed and it is cone-shaped
inside. The range of the modern oboe starts at the Bb below middle C (MIDI Bb3)
and reaches 2 � octaves up to the F above the second C above middle C. (MIDI
F5). Most orchestras have employed two oboes since Bach's time.
The oboe
is the second of the 4 woodwind instruments of the modern orchestra, which are
(in order of descending pitch ranges) :- The flute, the oboe, the
clarinet, and the bassoon. It is also a member of most wind quartets and
quintets. The English word "oboe" is an anglicised pronunciation
and spelling for the French "Hautbois", which means "High
Wood".
"The Oboe is chiefly a melody instrument; it is pastoral
by nature, full of tenderness, I would almost say: shy. Na�ve gracefulness,
untroubled innocence, silent joy and the pain of the soft being; the oboe can optimally
portray all this in cantabile. A certain degree of excitement also lies within
its capabilities, but one must guard against wanting to force from it a
passionate cry, a stormy outburst of rage, threat or valour; for its small,
bitter-sweet voice then becomes powerless and is diminished to something
unnatural" (Hector Berlioz, Trait� d'instrumentation et d'orchestration
modernes (1844)).