The cor anglais, also known as the English horn, is a double reed woodwind instrument that resembles an oboe but is slightly larger and pitched lower. Its name can be confusing to those unfamiliar with orchestral instruments, leading some to wonder: is the cor anglais a brass instrument? The answer is no, but to truly understand why, we need to look deeper into the characteristics of brass and woodwind families, the construction of the cor anglais, and how it produces sound.
Brass Instruments: Characteristics and Sound Production
To determine whether an instrument is a brass instrument, we must understand what defines brass. Brass instruments are typically made of brass or similar metals and produce sound through the buzzing of a player’s lips against a mouthpiece. This vibration travels through the instrument’s tubing, and the pitch is altered by changing the lip tension and by pressing valves or moving slides.
Common examples of brass instruments include the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba. These instruments are known for their bold, rich, and powerful sounds, and they are a staple in orchestras, marching bands, and jazz ensembles. The design and method of tone production are central to what makes these instruments part of the brass family—not simply the material from which they are made.
Woodwind Instruments: Where the Cor Anglais Belongs
Woodwind instruments produce sound differently. Rather than relying on lip vibration, most woodwinds use a reed or an air column that resonates within a tube. Woodwinds can be further divided into single reed instruments like the clarinet and saxophone, and double reed instruments like the oboe and bassoon. The cor anglais is part of the latter group.
Though the name might suggest a relationship with horns and perhaps the brass family, the cor anglais is very much a woodwind. It uses a double reed that vibrates when the player blows air through it. This reed is attached to a bocal (a small curved metal tube), which then connects to the main body of the instrument. The cor anglais’s sound is mellow, expressive, and slightly deeper in pitch than the oboe.
Materials Used in the Cor Anglais
One source of confusion may come from the fact that some parts of the cor anglais—like the bocal—are made from metal. However, the body of the instrument is traditionally made of grenadilla wood, or sometimes other dense hardwoods like rosewood or cocobolo. Some student models may incorporate plastic or composite materials for durability, but professional instruments retain wood for optimal tonal qualities.
The presence of a small metal part does not reclassify an instrument into the brass family. The material alone is not enough. The method of sound production and instrument design are what truly determine the classification. This is why the cor anglais, despite its slight metallic elements, remains a woodwind instrument.
The Evolution and Name of the Cor Anglais
The name “cor anglais” adds further confusion. Literally translated from French, it means “English horn,” although the instrument is neither distinctly English nor a horn in the brass sense. Historically, the term may have originated from the instrument’s bent or angled shape. In Middle French, “anglé” meant “angled,” which may have been misinterpreted as “anglais,” meaning “English.”
Moreover, the term “horn” was historically used more loosely than today, sometimes referring to curved or conical-shaped instruments regardless of how sound was produced. This misnaming stuck and carried through to modern times, despite its misleading implication of a brass classification.
Comparison with Other Double Reed Instruments
To further clarify the cor anglais’s classification, it’s helpful to compare it with its double reed cousins. The oboe, bassoon, and contrabassoon also fall within this category. Like the cor anglais, they use two reeds bound together and require controlled breath and embouchure to produce sound. These instruments are essential members of the woodwind family in orchestras and chamber ensembles.
The cor anglais differs primarily in pitch and size. It is pitched in F, a fifth lower than the oboe, and has a bulbous bell that contributes to its unique, rounded tone. It’s particularly favored for its expressive and melancholic sound, often used in solo passages in orchestral music to convey emotion and depth.
Function and Role in the Orchestra
In an orchestral setting, the cor anglais often plays a special role. It is not always part of the core woodwind section but is brought in for specific pieces that require its unique sound. When featured, it can either double oboe parts at a lower pitch or have independent solo lines, often associated with lyrical or pastoral themes.
Famous examples of orchestral works featuring the cor anglais include Dvořák’s “New World Symphony,” where it plays a prominent solo in the second movement, and Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique,” which uses the instrument in a dramatic and atmospheric context.
Sound Profile and Timbre
The timbre of the cor anglais is distinctive and plays a vital role in its classification. Brass instruments typically produce bright, brassy, and resonant tones. The cor anglais, in contrast, offers a warm, nasal, and plaintive sound. This difference in tone arises from the reed and bore shape rather than any metallic construction.
This soulful sound has led composers to use the cor anglais in moments of sorrow, reflection, or romance. Its voice is closer to that of a singer’s alto or mezzo-soprano range, and it often carries these expressive qualities better than any brass instrument could.
Why Material Isn’t Everything
Many newcomers to orchestral instruments assume material defines classification. While material can influence tone and durability, it’s not the key characteristic. For instance, flutes are often made of metal, but they are still classified as woodwinds due to their method of sound production—air blown across a mouthpiece hole rather than through a reed or lip buzz.
Similarly, some brass instruments, like the serpent or the keyed bugle, were historically made from wood or had leather coverings, yet they remained brass instruments due to their method of tone generation. This reinforces that sound production and construction mechanism are the true indicators of family classification.
Common Myths about the Cor Anglais
Let’s debunk some common myths:
Myth: “It’s made of metal, so it must be brass.”
Truth: The body is wood, and sound is made with a double reed.
Myth: “Horn means it’s part of the brass section.”
Truth: The term “horn” is historical and does not imply brass classification here.
Myth: “It’s just a fancy oboe.”
Truth: While related, the cor anglais has its own pitch, range, and timbral identity.
Summary
In conclusion, the cor anglais is not a brass instrument. Its classification as a woodwind is supported by the following:
- It uses a double reed.
- It produces sound by vibrating reeds, not by lip buzzing into a mouthpiece.
- Its body is primarily wooden.
- It shares construction and acoustic principles with the oboe and bassoon.
Despite its misleading name, the cor anglais holds a unique and important place within the woodwind family. Understanding the nature of this instrument adds depth to one’s appreciation of orchestral music and helps demystify one of the more confusing instrument names in Western music history.
