Milan, Italy
Orsi

Plexiglas, metal
c. 20th century
Length: 24 in
Wind Instruments – Woodwinds – Double Reed

The oboe is a double-reed, non-transposing aerophone (woodwind) that developed from the earlier shawm.  It is longer than the shawm and has smaller finger holes.

The plexiglass body of this oboe is a distinctive feature with its metal conservatory keywork system. While not replicating wood, Plexiglas (modified PMMA / Polymethyl methacrylate) instruments offer different resonance, sometimes used for novel sounds.   The transparency is 100% and makes it look quite unreal.

La Scala clarinetist Romeo Orsi established the firm of Maino & Orsi in Milan, Italy, with Paolo Maino in 1880, initially developing a duplex A/B-flat (Bb) clarinet and producing wind and brass instruments.  After Maino’s death in 1902, Orsi became the sole proprietor until his death in 1918, at which time management fell to his son Lorenzo and the firm’s name changed to “Prof. Romeo Orsi.”  They increasingly produced rare wind and brass instruments, which were owned and played by Kraftwerk multi-instrumentalist, Florian Schneider. The firm continues manufacturing instruments to this day.

Florian Schneider (1947-2020) was a German musician, singer, and co-founder of the legendary electronic band Kraftwerk, known for pioneering electronic music with synthesizers, vocoders, and electronic flutes, shaping genres from synth-pop to hip-hop before his retirement in 2008. Starting with the flute and violin in the late ’60s, he evolved to use custom electronic instruments, creating unique textures and vocals, and co-founding the influential Kling Klang studio with Ralf Hütter.