The mezzo-soprano of the oboe family, this is like a larger oboe, but not as large as the cor anglais. It has a bulb shaped bell and an angled crook at the top for the reed to go in. It is pitched a minor third lower than the oboe and is a transposing instrument. The name means 'oboe of love' and the tone produced is absolutely beautiful. Bach wrote some wonderful music for oboe d'amore in his B Minor Mass .