Topmusicanswers
A crook, also sometimes called a shank, is an exchangeable segment of tubing in a natural horn (or other brass instrument, such as a natural trumpet) which is used to change the length of the pipe, altering the fundamental pitch and harmonic series which the instrument can sound, and thus the key in which it plays.
Who invented horn crooks?
It wasn't until the 18th century that "crooks" were invented. These were removable sections of brass tubing that, when inserted, changed the key of a specific horn. The crook concept was invented by Anton Joseph Hampel, a German musician.
What invention replaced the crook?
Crooks were in use at least by about 1600 and were used extensively by the late 18th century. They were superseded in the 19th century by valves, which, unlike crooks, allowed instantaneous changes in basic air-column pitch. If such a piece of tubing is straight rather than curved, it is called a shank.
Which woodwind instrument has a crook?
Oboe: Upper joint (including crook or staple receiver, finger holes and key work), lower joint (including finger holes and key work), bell (including vent holes).
