hautboy

Old double-reed instrument

Hautboy is an archaic name for the oboe, a double-reed woodwind instrument.

The word comes from French for "high wood," referring to its high pitch among wooden instruments.

You may encounter it in older texts or period music discussions: The hautboy player took his place in the baroque ensemble.

Modern usage strongly prefers oboe.

instrument

oboe

Twin-reed wind instrument

bassoon · musette · recorder · cornett

woodwind

flute

Tube blown sideways

  • clarinetSingle-reed woodwind instrument
  • bassoonLow-pitched double-reed woodwind
  • piccoloSmall, high-pitched woodwind

recorder · fife · chamber music · wind ensemble · double reed · reed · bore · keys · embouchure · fingering

timbre

reedy

Thin and high-pitched

pastoral · bright · penetrating · expressive · sonorous · mellow · vibrant · warm · clear · rich

baroque

harpsichord

Plucked-string keyboard instrument

  • continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
  • fugueContrapuntal musical form
  • sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition

concerto · gavotte · minuet · allemande · sarabande · gigue · clavichord · lute · viola da gamba · ornamentation

orchestral

symphony

Extended composition for orchestra

brass · percussion · score · overture · movement · chamber · philharmonic · opera · soloist · repertoire

Opposites
pitch register in woodwind family

hautboybassoon

Low-pitched double-reed woodwind

contrabassoon · bass clarinet · serpent

instrument type within early music context

hautboyrecorder

End-blown wooden flute

flageolet · cornett

Family

oboist

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G