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Music Amuses
Did you know that the oboe was originally used to charm SNAKES? The oboe was first brought to Europe after explorers heard it played by snake charmers in India. (Incidentally, snakes are deaf though they do sense vibrations. It is likely that snakes sway to the music because they follow the movement of the oboe.) The oboe emerged in the French courts around 1650. Its name came from the French word "hautbois" (pronounced "o-bwa") which means "high-wood". By the 1700s the oboe was an accepted member of the orchestra. Throughout the century, keys were added so that more notes could be played. Since 1825 the oboe has remained basically unchanged. The oboe's history is celebrated by the fact that orchestras today still tune to it. As regards its snake-charming function, some developing countries still use the non-keyed ancestor of the instrument to charm snakes from baskets to entertain tourists. Oboes have a reedy, almost nasal sound. Though a beginner usually produces sounds which resemble those of a duck (quite unpleasant), the rewards of practice are immeasurable. Experienced players produce a clearer, more controlled tone, usually with vibrato. The instrument, in the hands of a master, sounds especially poignant and casts its spell on all listeners. At the CCOHK's upcoming musical adventure The Magic Jungle, the oboe will be appropriately cast as the snake. Don't miss-sss it!
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