View a Preview ClipThe Oboe Video(VHS/DVD). The modern version of the oboe and the many forms it has taken during its evolution are the subject of this program. We see the oboe’s ancient Egyptian ancestor—an unrecognizable prototype of the instrument played today. The more familiar-looking oboe, developed in the 17th century, is discussed within the context of its predecessors—the English horn, the heckelphone, and the contra bassoon. Works from Lully to Strauss illustrate the oboe’s versatility in musical composition. (28 minutes)
