Dictionary of Music - Birding America

Oo 1 In scores, a sign placed over or under a note,directing the player to perform either an open noteor a harmonic (overtone). 2 In music for stringedinstruments (violins, cellos, etc.), a sign directingthe performer to play the note on an open(unstopped) string, or to obtain the note by playing aharmonic; the pitch of the note so marked determineswhich direction is meant. 3 In music for brassinstruments (French horn, trombone, etc.), a signcalling for an unstopped note (not muted), particularlyfollowing a stopped note, marked +. 4 In musicfor woodwinds (oboe, clarinet, etc.), a sign callingfor a harmonic, produced by overblowing.obbligato (ôb′′blē gä′tô) Italian. 1 A part thatmay not be left out in performance, especially aninstrumental part in the accompaniment of a vocalwork. Arias with instrumental obbligatos are commonin the operas and oratorios of the baroqueperiod (1600–1750). 2 During the nineteenth century,the term was sometimes used to refer to anoptional part that could be left out in performance,although such a part is properly termed AD LIBITUM.oblique motion See under MOTION, def. 2.oboe (ō′bō). A woodwind instrument with a doublereed and conical bore (cone-shaped inside). Togetherwith the flute, clarinet, and bassoon, the oboe is oneof the four basic woodwind instruments of the orchestra.The oboe is usually made of wood and in threesections: an upper one, to which the reed is attached;a central one, the main body of the instrument; and alower one, with a slightly flared bell. The oboe has sixfig. 165 p/u from p. 272finger holes and a number of keys, yielding a range ofabout two and one-half octaves, from the B-flat belowmiddle C to the F above high C.fig. 166 p/ufrom p. 272Instruments of the oboe family are very old. Theancient Greek aulos is one example. The modern265