An oboe is a woodwind with a cylindrical wooden body and a mouthpiece made from a double reed. First used at the court of Louis XIV,the oboe has remained identified as a French invention. In French, its name is "hautbois" (or principle wood), very appropriate since the contemporary woodwind section of the western orchestra was developed around this instrument. Professional oboe players usually make their own reeds out of a piece of cane which they fold and fasten with a metal staple. The folded end is then cut off leaving two separate blades. These blades are scraped thin so that they will vibrate when you blow into them.
During the 18th century, many works were composed for solo oboe, including pieces by such renowned composers as J.S. Bach and G.P. Telemann. More recently, the importance of the oboe has been somewhat overshadowed by the introduction of the flute and clarinet to the orchestra, and by the emphasis on the violin and piano as solo instruments in the nineteenth century. However, it is still at the heart of the orchestral woodwinds, and is a dynamic instrument for both solo and ensemble performances.