Oboe d'Amore
D’Amore
The oboe d’Amore (Italian for “Oboe of Love”) is in A. It was composed for primarily in the Baroque era, both orchestral and solo, though modern composers are finding the sweet, soft sound interesting. The oboe d’Amore’s most notable modern orchestral solo is in Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, and some performers are experimenting with more modern solo styles, as with this piece by Andrew Ford, performed by Geoffrey Burgess.
The tone of the oboe d’Amore is very unique, tending to project less than both the English horn and oboe. The air pressure required for playing seems low comparatively, making this instrument feel very easy to play, though not always as easy to play in tun. Specific notes with pitch problems include the C5 in particular, also the tuning note.