Barbara Rich, age 11, of Eureka, Calif., for her question:

WHEN WAS THE OBOE INVENTED?

Smallest and highest pitched of all the double reed woodwind instruments in the orchestra is the oboe. It was invented or developed in the mid 1600s in France.

An oboe is about 21 inches long. It has a mouthpiece at one end and a bell at the other. Keys and tone holes are placed between. The name comes from two French words: haut, meaning high, and obis, meaning wood.

Almost three octaves are covered in the oboe's range. The instrument  is difficult to play because the musician must breathe more slowly than normal since so little air is needed to make musical sounds.

Early oboes gave off loud, harsh tones, but today the instrument is known for its smooth and beautiful tones. The English horn is an alto oboe, a fifth lower in pitch.