The ancestor of the oboe, dating back to medieval times, the European shawm is a 13th century importation from Arab military and open-air music.

Shawms flourished throughout the middle ages and Renaissance. In Germany they were called Rauschpfeifes. By the time of the Baroque period, they were being replaced by the Baroque oboe.

They are made in sizes ranging from the sopranino to a great bass in C that is almost 9 feet long. Shown is a modern soprano.