Oboe History

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The first type of reed instrument was created by the Egyptians in B.C. times. The primitive form was barley straws pressed flat and placed in a small pipe. These Egyptian reed-pipes later had three to four holes added. They varied in length.
The Romans had similar instruments which they called tibiae.
A short double-reeded instrument had been developed by the 12th century. It had a conical bore with a wide bell. It was brought to Europe during the Crusades from the East. It was named the shawm.
The 14th century brought modifications and the discant shawm was invented. The treble shawm was soon produced. The oboe was developed from this instrument in the 17th century. It was made to be performed indoors.
The oboe was produced by the Hotteterre family. It was first used in the court of Louis XVI. The original name was the French word hautbois, meaning "high-wood".
The oboe was made of three sections with six keys and hole. Developments in the 18th century included making different sizes. One such model was the oboe di caccia. This is the ancestor of the English horn.
More key mechanisms were developed in the 19th century. Nine keys were used by 1825 with the fingering similar to the flute and bassoon. The reed was also improved upon.
The oboe is 1 foot 11.5 inches long, not including the reed. It is made with a conical bore that is larger towards the end. The English horn is 2 feet 7.5 inches long, not including the short metal tube to which the reed is attached. They are made of ebonite. The English horn has a lower, richer sound than the oboe.
The oboe has been a favorite among composers for the last 300 years. The appeal is the reedy sound which is good for staccato melodies. The English horn is used for the lower sounds.
Sound is produced by the player drawing the lips between the teeth into the mouth. The player then focuses the air through the reed at high pressure. The reeds vibrate against each other. This sets th...