The term “hautboistes” can by no means be translated as “oboists” or “oboe players,” since besides the mastery of various oboes and bassoons, skills on many other instruments were expected of them. The repertoire of the hautboistes ensembles included a wealth of diverse kinds of Gebrauchsmusik. They played dance music, marched in funeral processions, joined with the town musicians in cantata church services, and played whenever music was required at ofKicial events. A representative selection of such music, featuring compositions by Georg Philipp Telemann, is offered on this CD.