The Oboe
The oboe is an instrument that belongs to the woodwind family of instruments. Its name comes from the French word "hautbois", which means "wood-high". The oboe is conical in shape and its sound is produced by vibration when blowing through a double reed.
The oboe family consists of several instruments. The best known is the English horn (tenor or alto) and the oboe d'amore (mezzo soprano), mostly used in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
The oboe is mostly used in the context of a symphony orchestra, solo, chamber music and band. In the symphonic context it is the instrument that tunes the orchestra by playing the note "A" when tuning. The oboe is the instrument used for tuning because, of all the orchestral instruments, it is the one that stays in tune the best.
Oboe Reeds
Professional oboists make their own reeds tailored to their size and preference. Making their own oboe reeds allows the oboist to control factors such as their sound and tuning in relation to the instrument.