English horn
A double-reed woodwind instrument pitched a fifth below the oboe, known for its warm, melancholy tone color used extensively in orchestral music.
In Depth
Despite its name, the English horn is neither English nor a horn — it is an alto oboe, likely misnamed through a corruption of the French "cor anglé" (angled horn) to "cor anglais" (English horn). It uses a curved metal bocal connecting the reed to the instrument and has a distinctive bulbous bell that contributes to its darker, more veiled timbre compared to the oboe.
The English horn is a standard member of the modern symphony orchestra, typically played by the second or third oboist. Its plaintive tone has inspired some of the most famous solos in orchestral literature, including the slow movement of Dvořák's New World Symphony, the shepherd's tune in Act III of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, and the opening of the second movement of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.
The English horn is not English and not a horn — its name likely comes from a corruption of the French "cor anglé" (angled horn) into "cor anglais" (English horn).