oboe
/ˈəʊbəʊ
/noun
1A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.Other unique curiosities are the 3 Sonatas that the composer wrote for each of the main woodwind instruments; oboe, bassoon and clarinet, although those for cor anglais and flute never saw the light of day....
- They are indeed miniatures, as the entire set of eight take about eight minutes to perform by the pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, violins, violas, cellos and one horn.
- On this recording, there are nine violins, three violas, three cellos, a double bass, one flute, three oboes, one bassoon, three trumpets, a set of timpani, and a harpsichord.
1.1An organ stop resembling an oboe in tone.
Derivatives
oboist
/ noun ...- British composers were especially lucky in their clarinetists, oboists, horn players, and violists.
- There is a peculiarly haunting quality to the sound, and the rapport between oboist and cellist testifies to the time they have spent working together.
- I have always found this piece shallow and out of proportion from a pen of such greatness, although I know I am in the minority amongst oboists.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Italian, or from French hautbois, from haut 'high' + bois 'wood'.