Swiss Guards (Fragment from the Funeral Procession of William, 1752, Plate 5)
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the oboe was mostly played in bands for outdoor music. Originating in the army, oboe marching bands soon came to be adopted for civilian purposes. They played marches and dance suites, as well as processional and funeral music. Here we see a group of oboe players at Stadholder William IV’s funeral in Delft, 1752.