OBO is a term used to describe the “Overture by Bach” from J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
This instrumental composition modulates to the dominant key of B-flat major after a brief introduction at the outset of three measures as though it were something that could not wait until later. OBO is defined as an abbreviation for one bar overtone, or one beat overtones which has been studied extensively and is very important to musical harmony. It is also defined as a signal flag with eight vertical stripes, four white and four red that means ‘dangerous’ in International maritime signal flags.