Light oboe

The History of the Oboe

By Irisamay
  • 1100

    Rudimentary oboes

    Rudimentary oboes
    A decedent of the oboe is the shawm, which was used at the earliest in the 12th century, Saracen Sicily. The shawm had a loud and nasally noise, it had the body of a recorder and the reed of an oboe. It was often used in compositions that included trumpets and and percussion accompaniments. The instrument was often used in street music and military bands.

  • Evolution of the Shawm

    Evolution of the Shawm
    As the want for more expressive music increased, the shawm was pushed out of popularity. The shawm was adapted into the smaller and more delicate oboe which allowed for dynamics and a more controlled tone.

  • The Hautbois oboe

    The Hautbois oboe
    In the mid 17th century the first baroque oboe called Hautbois (high wood) was created In France. It quickly gained popularity and was used to entertain the French court.

  • The Haunting Oboe

    The Haunting Oboe
    The Oboe da Caccia or the haunting oboe (most similar to the present day English Horn) was developed around the same time the Hautbois oboe was created. The haunting oboe had a curved body and was noted for it's appearances in many of Bach's cantatas and masses.
    [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUYDkAvs-Ko]

  • Revivalism of the Oboe

    Revivalism of the Oboe
    The revival of the oboe was much accredited to the work of composer Richard Strauss in the early 19th century (after the work of Ludwig Van Beethoven).

  • Addition to the Oboe

    Addition to the Oboe
    By 1839 the number of keys on the French oboe had increased to 10.

  • The First Step to the Modern Oboe

    The First Step to the Modern Oboe
    Guillaume Triébert and his son Frédéric created an instrument very close to the French oboe but with a few important changes such the perforated plates placed of the previously open holes.

  • The Modern Oboe

    The Modern Oboe
    The first modern oboe was produced by François Lorée and Georges Gillet. This model is now commonly used in both France and the United States.

  • The Adoption of the French Oboe

    The Adoption of the French Oboe
    Germany and Austria adopted the French oboe in 1925, while Russia continued to use the German version of the instrument.

  • Debut

    Debut
    The modern Oboe officially debuted in France on St. David's Day in 1967 although the composition played was originally written in 1965. The oboe was showcased with a composition written by Grace Williams, called Carillons, a light weight movement.
    [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_a75bZKLc8]