Play the oboe
Like the bassoon, the oboe has a double reed which generates the sound. This is 2 pieces of cane tied tightly together. The oboe has ancient ancestors in the aulos which was played in ancient Greece. A more recent ancestor is the medieval and renaissance shawm.
The oboe also comes in different sizes. The most common lower oboe is the cor anglais but check out the Oboe d'Amore – which means the 'oboe of love' and the bass oboe which is heard in the Planets suite by Gustav Holst. The oboe is played in orchestras and wind bands and film music. It is a popular solo instrument. The oboe has a beautiful sound that has been described as close to the human voice. The oboe is an 'endangered species' – choose this instrument and you will be in demand.
What Rochdale ensembles can I join?
- Training Wind Band
- Youth Wind Band
- Community Wind Band
- Sinfonia
Join one of our music ensembles