The shawm is part of a long double reed tradition that can be traced back to ancient Egypt, appearing in many cultures (related instruments are the Turkish zurna, Chinese so-na, Javanese sruni, and South Asian shehnai).
A double reed consists of two thin blades of cane that vibrate against each other when the player blows air through them. On the shawm, the player’s lips control the reed directly. This allows the instrument to extend into a second octave and provides some control over volume and expression.
Even so, Renaissance players often used the shawm for its most distinctive quality: a loud, bright sound suited to outdoor performance. The shawm was the principal instrument of the 15th and 16th century civic wind bands, combined with other reed and brass instruments. The instrument remained in use into the 17th century, eventually giving rise to the Baroque oboe in France.
