Musical Instruments: Oboe, Cor Anglais and Bassoon

The oboe, cor anglais and bassoon are double reed instruments. These are reeds that are fastened together and placed onto the instrument. The performer blows down the instrument and the sound is produced when the breath passes between the reeds.

The Oboe

The oboe is written on the treble clef and it is not transposing. It has a range of over two octaves.

Below is a picture of a performer playing the oboe.

Photo credit: ssalonso via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

 
The Cor Anglais

The cor anglais is transposing. The range is over two octaves, but the range is smaller than the oboe. It looks similar to the oboe, but it is larger with a curved neck. The music for the cor anglais is written on the treble clef.

The Bassoon

The bassoon is written on the bass clef with the higher notes on the tenor clef. Its range is over three octaves. It is not transposing.

Below is a picture of a bassoon.

Photo credit: adil113 via Foter.com / CC BY

 
Warburton, Annie O. Basic Music Knowledge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Print, p. 141.