cor anglais
A double-reed woodwind instrument, larger and lower than the oboe. Also called English horn.
In Depth
The cor anglais, or English horn, is a double-reed woodwind instrument pitched a fifth below the oboe. Despite its name, it is neither English nor a horn — the name likely derives from a corruption of angled horn, referring to the bent shape of earlier instruments. Its pear-shaped bell gives it a more covered, melancholy tone than the oboe.
The cor anglais is known for some of the most beautiful solos in the orchestral repertoire. Dvořák's New World Symphony features a famous cor anglais melody in the slow movement, and Berlioz, Wagner, and Sibelius all wrote prominent passages for it. The instrument's wistful, pastoral quality makes it particularly effective for expressing longing and nostalgia.
Despite being called the English horn, the instrument is neither English nor a horn. The most likely explanation is that the name is a corruption of the French cor anglé (angled horn).