oboes

An oboe is a member of the woodwind family known for its distinctive bright, singing tone. It is a double-reed instrument, typically made of grenadilla wood, with a slender body and a system of keys that extend its range. The oboe is pitched in C and sounds at concert pitch. It uses a double reed fashioned from two pieces of scraped cane; the reed is bound to a metal staple and inserted into the top of the instrument. Players adjust the reed by scraping and shaping to control pitch, response, and timbre. The range extends roughly from B♭3 to G6, with higher notes possible in specialized playing.

Historically, the oboe developed from the shawm in 17th-century France and Italy. It gained a standardized form in the 18th and 19th centuries as instrument makers refined the bore and keywork. Modern oboes are usually made of grenadilla wood and feature a complex key system; many players also use synthetic or hybrid instruments. The Heckel system, developed in the early 20th century, became widely adopted for its reliability in professional orchestras.

In performance, the oboe often carries melodic lines and serves as a principal tuning instrument, supplying the A used for tuning before performances. It has a substantial solo and chamber repertoire, from Baroque works by J.S. Bach and Handel to Classical concertos by Mozart and later composers. The oboe is common in orchestras, wind ensembles, and chamber groups, and remains a central voice in the woodwind family.