Explore our collection of oboe-related research. Discover insights from researchers with the Analysis, Creation, and Teaching of Orchestration Project, along with recommended external resources.
The oboe’s double reed is the heart of its distinct character. Since no satisfactory way of mass-producing oboe reeds has been perfected, oboists spend a good part of their lives making and adjusting reeds. Intonation is largely a matter of fine-tuning the reed, and the quality of the reed can have a decisive impact on the color of the instrument.
“The oboe is normally made of grenadilla, a very dense wood, and its keys are made of metal. Like the English horn and bassoon, one produces a sound with an ancient and very peculiar invention: the double reed!”
“The aim of The Orchestra: A User's Manual is to provide information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments, for the benefit of anybody with an interest in the subject.”
