Oboe

The oboe is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. A soprano oboe measures roughly 65 cm long, with metal keys, a conical bore and a flared bell. Sound is produced by blowing into the reed at a sufficient air pressure, causing it to vibrate with the air column. The distinctive tone is versatile and has been described as "bright".When the word oboe is used alone, it is generally taken to mean the treble instrument rather than other instruments of the family, such as the bass oboe, the cor anglais (English horn), or oboe d'amore.
A musician who plays the oboe is called an oboist.Today, the oboe is commonly used as orchestral or solo instrument in symphony orchestras, concert bands and chamber ensembles.The oboe is especially used in classical music, chamber music, film music, some genres of folk music, and is occasionally heard in jazz, rock, pop and popular music. The oboe is widely recognized as the instrument that tunes the orchestra with its distinctive 'A'.

History

In English, prior to 1770, the standard instrument was called a "hautbois", "hoboy", or "French hoboy". This was borrowed from the French name, "hautbois" which is a compound word made up of haut ("high", "loud") and bois ("wood", "woodwind").The spelling of oboe was adopted into English c. 1770 from the Italian oboe, a transliteration of the 17th-century pronunciation of the French name.
The regular oboe first appeared in the mid-17th century, when it was called a hautbois. This name was also used for its predecessor, the shawm, from which the basic form of the hautbois was derived.The hautbois quickly spread throughout Europe, including Great Britain, where it was called "hautboy", "hoboy", "hautboit", "howboye", and similar variants of the French name.It was the main melody instrument in early military bands, until it was succeeded by the clarinet.
The standard Baroque oboe is generally made of boxwood and has three keys: a "great" key and two side keys (the side key is often doubled to facilitate use of either the right or left hand on the bottom holes). In order to produce higher pitches, the player has to "overblow", or increase the air stream to reach the next harmonic.

Notable Classical Works:

Tomaso Albinoni, Oboe (and two-oboe) Concerto
Richard Strauss, Oboe Concerto
Robert Schumann, Three Romances for Oboe and Piano
Tchaikovsky, theme to Swan Lake
Sonatina, op. 337, for oboe and piano (1954)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Oboe Concerto in C major,  Quartet in F major for oboe, violin, viola, and cello.
Camille Saint Saens,  Sonata for Oboe and Piano in D Major

"Why you should learn oboe?"

The oboe is one of the most recognizable sounds in the orchestra or band, and composers often use its sweet singing quality to carry the most sensitive and beautiful melodies. The oboe can be an extremely rewarding instrument to learn to play, and once the feeling of a good tone is produced it is hard to ignore the allure. Students who are successful with the oboe are very detail-oriented, patient, intellectual, and curious. Unlike the clarinet or other instruments in the string or brass families, the oboe and reed require constant maintenance, which can be frustrating when all you want to do is make music. This is one reason the oboist is one of the highest paid members of an orchestra.