Symphony Orchestra tuning

[Musicat]

@mojave66

The first poster had it right-- the oboe is the hardest instrument to tune outside of the piano and harp.

Or to state that in a slightly different manner, the oboe is one instrument most likely to be the closest to the ideal pitch without trying too hard, so it’s logical that all others would use it as a reference.

Also, compared to an instrument whose sound is not easily sustained, like a piano or harp, an oboe can hold a steady tone while others listen.

[vertizontal]

@KlondikeGeoff

… it would be a pity if somebody did not know the saying about the oboe:

It is an ill wind that nobody blows good.

For a time (about 2 weeks) we had 8 oboes in our high school band. Outside of rehearsal, I heard my band director say “The only way to make 8 oboes sound good is to break 7 reeds.”