Oboe d'amore

DEFINITION

A member of the modern oboe family with a soprano /alto range, the range of which sounds from G -sharp below middle C to C -sharp above the treble clef, but is notated a minor third above that. The oboe d'amore was very popular during the Baroque era. Its sound is somewhat gentler than that of the oboe, and its lower notes are dark, full, and rich. The oboe d'amore has almost fallen out of favor today, often being replaced by the oboe and the English horn.