Oboe d'amore
The oboe d'amore is a woodwind instrument. It is a member of the double-reed family, very similar to the oboe. Slightly larger than the oboe, it has a lower sound, and is considered the mezzo-soprano of the oboe family. It is a transposing instrument, sounding a minor third lower than it is notated.The oboe d'amore was invented in the 18th century and was first used by Christoph Graupner in Wie wunderbar ist Gottes Güt. Pieces were written for the oboe d'amore by J.S. Bach, among others.
After losing popularity in the late 18th century, the oboe d'amore remained rare for about 100 years, until composers began using it once again in the mid-19th century.
See also: cor anglais, bassoon
This article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.