Bass oboe

The bass oboe, also called the baritone oboe, is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is twice the size of a regular oboe and plays notes one octave lower, giving it a deep sound. This instrument is written with the treble clef but sounds one octave lower than written.

Its lowest note is B₂, which is one octave below middle C. Some bass oboes have an extra key to play an even lower note, B♭₂. The bass oboe’s mouthpiece, called a bocal, is shaped like a flattened question mark. This looks different from the cor anglais or oboe d’amore. Another design makes it look more like the neck of a bass clarinet.

Like other oboes, the bass oboe uses a double reed, which is larger than the reed used for a cor anglais. This special design helps create its deep tone, making it interesting for musicians.

Etymology

The bass oboe is called the "bass oboe" in English and "hautbois baryton" in French, which means "baritone oboe." It is named like other instruments such as the bass flute and the bass clarinet. These instruments sound one octave lower than their smaller versions.

History

Early bass oboes were made to look like bassoons. Later, they were made larger, like the cor anglais, called the hautbois baryton. They were introduced in 1889 by François Lorée.

There can be confusion between the bass oboe and the Heckelphone, made by the firm of Wilhelm Heckel in 1904. The Heckelphone has a wider tube and uses a different way to press the keys.

The bass oboe is not made very often and is usually a special order. It costs more than a regular cor anglais. It has been made by companies such as F. Lorée and Marigaux.

Repertoire

Here are some pieces of music where you can hear the beautiful sound of the bass oboe. A famous use is in Gustav Holst’s The Planets, where the bass oboe plays special parts. Other composers like Michael Tippett and Thomas Adès also use the bass oboe in their works.

Only a few concertos for the bass oboe have been written, such as The East Coast by Gavin Bryars. Musicians like Michael Sluman have created many new pieces for this instrument, performing them around the world.