What is "heckelphone"

n. A musical instrument resembling the oboe, but pitched an octave lower.

n. a oboe pitched an octave below the ordinary oboe [syn: basset oboe]

The heckelphone is a musical instrument invented by Wilhelm Heckel and his sons. The idea to create the instrument was initiated by Richard Wagner, who suggested at the occasion of a visit of Wilhelm Heckel in 1879. Introduced in 1904, it is similar to the oboe but pitched an octave lower.