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Glite Dictionary
heckelphone

heckelphone

9.9
A woodwind instrument like an oboe but sounding one octave lower
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛkəlˌfoʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : heckelphone
  • The composer wrote a part for the heckelphone to add depth to the woodwind section.

Examples

  • The heckelphone produces a rich, deep sound that contrasts with the higher oboe.

  • Few orchestras own a heckelphone because it is a rare and specialized instrument.

  • The heckelphone produces a rich, warm sound.

  • Many orchestras include heckelphones in their woodwind sections.

  • The heckelphone produces a rich, deep sound that contrasts beautifully with the higher-pitched oboe.

  • Few orchestras have a heckelphone player, as it is a rare and specialized woodwind instrument.

  • The composer added a part for the heckelphone to enrich the overall texture of the woodwind section.

Synonyms

basset oboe
vsheckelphone
  • Specialized
9.4

An oboe that plays lower notes and sounds deeper and softer than a normal oboe

is a separate woodwind rather than an oboe variant
double-reed instrument
vsheckelphone
  • Specialized
5.0

A musical instrument that makes sound with two reeds, like an oboe or bassoon

is a specific instrument of that type pitched an octave lower

Surface Forms

heckelphone singular
heckelphones plural

Morphology

heckelphone = Heckel (semi-transparent) = heckel + phone

The combining element '-phone' signals an instrument (sound-producing device), but the proper name 'Heckel' is obscure to most learners so the exact reference is not predictable.

Etymology

The word heckelphone comes from the name of the German maker Heckel and the ending -phone, which means 'sound', just like in telephone and saxophone. So the name tells you it is an instrument made by Heckel that makes a deep, lower sound, like a low oboe.