The oboe is a double-reed woodwind instrument with a long history, evolving from ancient reed pipes into one of the most expressive voices of the modern orchestra.
Its distinctive, penetrating tone has made it both a solo and ensemble favorite, while its family of related instruments expands its range.
The oboe's early ancestors were ancient reed instruments, including the Greek aulos and the Roman tibia, both double-reed pipes used in ritual and public life. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the shawm, a loud, outdoor instrument with a conical bore, dominated European ceremonial and military music.
The modern oboe emerged in mid-17th-century France, when court musicians Jean Hotteterre and Michel Philidor refined the shawm into the more elegant hautbois (high wood). This new instrument had a narrower bore, softer tone, and greater agility, making it suitable for indoor court and chamber music.
The Baroque oboe (1650s-1750s) featured two or three keys, a mellow tone, and was central to works by composers like Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. During the Classical period, instrument makers narrowed the bore further, added keys, and improved tuning stability. Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major remains a cornerstone of the repertoire. The oboe gained a full key system in the 19th century, influenced by Theobald Boehm's flute innovations, though adapted differently to preserve its unique tone. The modern oboe is typically made of grenadilla wood (African blackwood), about 65 cm long, with a complex key system that allows full chromaticism and expressive nuance.
The oboe has several relatives, each with its own timbre and range. These include the Oboe d'amore (slightly lower than the standard oboe, with a warm, lyrical tone), the Cor anglais, or English horn (larger, pitched in F, and known for its plaintive, melancholic sound), the Bass oboe and Heckelphone (deep, resonant instrument used by composers like Hoist), the Piccolo oboe, or Oboe musette (a rare, higher-pitched member), and the Contrabass oboe and Lupophon (extremely low-pitched, rare instruments).
Throughout history, virtuoso oboists have shaped the instrument's reputation. These have included Marcel Tabuteau (1887-1966), founder of the American school of oboe playing, and principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Heinz Holliger (b. 1939), a Swiss oboist and composer, renowned for technical brilliance and contemporary repertoire; Albrecht Mayer (b. 1965), principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic, celebrated for his lyrical interpretations; and Nicholas Daniel (b. 1962), an English oboist known for championing new works and expanding the instrument's repertoire.
In the orchestra, the oboe often provides the tuning note (A440), due to its stable pitch and penetrating tone. Its expressive range, from pastoral sweetness to piercing lament, has made it a favorite for solos in symphonies, concertos, and film scores. The oboe is sometimes called the "Queen of Woodwinds" for its noble, singing quality.
Examples of informational and instructive websites featuring the oboe can be found below. For retail websites selling oboes, please see the Musical Instruments section of our Shopping & eCommerce part of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Founded by oboist James Turnbull in 2011, this is an informational and community site created to help people discover the oboe and start learning to play it. The site collects introductory articles on how to begin on the oboe, audio and video examples of repertoire, event listings, links to its Facebook page, and classified/marketplace listings for instruments, reeds, teachers, and oboe-related services. Marketplace listings may be submitted for inclusion.
https://learntoplaytheoboe.com/
Created and maintained by someone identified as Kaitlyn, this appears to be a personal oboe site offering teaching, guidance on reedmaking, a small reed business, and informational blog posts about learning to play the oboe and reed care. Included are lessons and a teacher profile, detailed posts on reedmaking, practicing, resources for oboists, and instrument-family articles. The website author also maintains a retail presence on Etsy, where she offers beginner and professional reeds.
https://northwoodsoboe.com/
The Oboe Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports instrumental music programs in schools by providing resources, advocacy, and educational opportunities to strengthen student musicianship and related life skills, particularly to help students increase access to quality band and orchestra experiences. The foundation runs outreach and partnership initiatives, awards scholarships through partner institutions, and supports sectional and classroom activities.
https://www.oboefoundation.org/
OI is a not-for-profit charitable organization registered in New York established by renowned oboist Bert Lucarelli in 1985. In its early years, the organization hosted the New York International Competition for Oboe Soloists and supported various recording projects. Throughout its history, the organization has provided financial assistance and instruments to oboe students in need, furthering its mission to nurture emerging talent. Its programs, support services, and contacts are featured.
https://www.oboeintl.org/
OboeFiles is a teacher-run oboe resource and shop operated by oboist/teacher Danny Cruz. The website combines free instructional articles and a newsletter with a small online store and paid teaching services. Premium services include virtual and in-person lessons, studio support, and master classes, as well as ready-made oboe reeds for sale and reed regrinding and sharpening services, with signups and purchases available online. Workshops and camps are also promoted for registration.
https://www.oboefiles.com/
