Why Do Orchestras Tune to the Oboe? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why Do Orchestras Tune to the Oboe? Why do orchestras tune to the oboe before a concert begins? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore the tradition behind the single tuning note that signals the start of nearly every orchestral performance. Before the music begins, the principal oboist plays an A—typically A = 440 hertz—and the rest of the orchestra tunes to match it. The reason is practical: the oboe produces a stable and penetrating pitch that is difficu...