Summary:

• Woodwind in the soprano register
• Very complicated key work
• Double reed instrument
• From warm and lyrical to bright and nasal
• 2 in the orchestra (+ 1 english horn)

Good blends:
Flute for a more mellow sound, clarinets for a fuller quality, or bassoons for a more powerful and deep sound. Both oboe and bassoons are double reed instruments, and therefore sound very good when played together.

Sound Example:

More Info:

The oboe is a double reed woodwind instrument, with a slightly nasal tone color. The expressive, warmer middle register is often used both for sad, melancholic themes as well as joyful melodies. The instrument has a very characteristic quality, both good for solo melodies, as well as for doubling other orchestral instruments.