The Oboe and Cor Anglaise Click here to listen to the oboe (RealAudio file) The oboe is responsible for carrying out the steady A note to which all other instruments of the orchestra tune to. Two or three oboes are found in an orchestra, the third playing the cor anglaise - the alto member of the oboe family - when required. The oboe has a compass of over two octaves from B flat and the cor anglaise is pitched a fifth below the oboe. Next instrument - the Clarinet Previous instrument - the Flute Back to the Orchestra construction of the oboe / cor anglaise The Reed: Both the oboe and cor anglaise are played with a double reed made out of very thin cane. The two pieces are bound together so as to leave a small gap of air for the player to blow through The Body: The conically shaped body of the oboe is constructed out of wood (grenadilla, rose or cocus), enlarging to a bell at the lower end. The cor anglaise is distinctly different as it has a greater length, a curved tube carrying the reed and a pear shaped bell. Unlike the flute, these instruments have more than one system of keys and the preferred choice varies due to personal taste or nationality of the player.