Oboe

These colorful unaccompanied musical scenes from the city are excellent study and recital pieces.The 7 short movements depict the composer's experiences during a visit to New York City. The movements are Another Sunrise, Off to a Busy Day, The Lost Key Episode, The Waitin' in Line Blues, Romantic Interlude, Sudden Storm, and Out on the Town. "Tonal, charming and imaginative! The low purchase price and the incisive approach of a skilled composer make this a piece worth seeking out.”- PMEA News Learn More

Flute. Oboe or Clarinet and Bassoon

I. Inception

II. Interruption

III. Conversation

IV. Resolution

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unaccompanied

Autumn Winds for Oboe is meant to capture the many moods of the fall season. The unique feature of the piece, the quickly alternating tempo markings provide both a challenge for the player but also quickly take the listener through the range of emotions we experience as the leaves fall and the wind blows on a crisp Autumn day. For some, it can be exciting and invigorating as the air dries and the colors change in the trees around us. For others, fall brings more solemn feelings as the warm weather fades and we look ahead to the days of waning sunlight. Autumn winds should provide each audience member with their own personal memories of fall and the proper feelings they wish to experience while listening. Learn More

Oboe, English Horn and Bassoon Learn More

For Oboe and Piano, "Bombur's Dream" is a three movement work that is a wonderful recital piece.

Program notes from the composer: 

For those who may need to brush up on their dwarf-lore, Bombur was one of thirteen dwarves featured in J. R. R. Tolkien’s book, The Hobbit. Along with the title character, Bilbo Baggins, and Gandalf the wizard, Bombur and the other dwarves set out on a long and dangerous quest to recover a vast treasure which had been stolen by the dragon Smaug. Along the way, Bombur stumbled into an enchanted river and promptly fell into a deep sleep from which he could not be awakened for several days. This meant that his friends had to carry him along with all their gear. (It should be noted that Bombur had what we might call a keen appreciation for fine cuisine; because of his resulting avoirdupois he was not an easy burden to bear.)

Eventually Bombur awoke but, according to Tolkien, when he learned that there was nothing to eat, he sat down on the ground and wept. “Why did I ever wake up?” he cried. “I was having the most beautiful dreams!”

The first movement of this piece has to do with Bombur’s lovely dreams and the second with his sorrow upon awakening. The third movement, “King Under the Mountain” is a cortège for the dwarves’ officious leader, Thorin Oakenshield. Bombur’s Dream is dedicated to the composer’s wife, the oboist Susan Joyce.

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with woodwind ensemble (2 Flts, 3 Clts, Bsn, 4 Hns, Alto and Ten. Sax and Bass) Learn More

with Piano

For a few years I have been visiting the Toscana region of Italy with my daughter Sara to attend the famous conducting summer academy at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena. During these trips we have enjoyed together the landscape, the culture, the architecture, the gastronomy and above all the music, our shared passion.

This work is born as a reminder of these journeys in which the music of Brahms, Wagner, Stravinsky, etc. is added to the sounds of Sara's daily study with her oboe in the apartament and the bustle in the streets of the city celebrating the famous Palio festivities.

The"Concerto Italiano" for Oboe and Band is structured in the manner of a classical concerto in three movements, alternating solo passages with the Band.

The first movement, La Toscana, is an Allegro Modetrato with a bitematical structure. The first

theme stands out for its naturalness in contrast to a more rhythmic second theme in 10/8. The cadenza shows us the oboe's skills before leading into a final coda that introduces us to what will later be the third movement.

The second movement, Siena, is an Andante affettuoso in which the oboe's emotive melody is interrupted by a sarcastic Allegro in waltz form.

The final Saltarello, represented by a well-known and charming traditional theme, is an Italian dance with a fast and joyful character, complemented by a virtuoso cadenza from the oboe.

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with Piano; solo can be played by either Oboe or B-flat Piccolo Trumpet Learn More

The Spanish title means “From the Wood” and refers not only to the material producing the tones, but also the alluring enchantment of the forest. This beautiful and compelling duo mixes Buss’ unique style of soaring lyricism and exciting contrasts with spicy, zesty Latin rhythms. The result is sure to please both the audience and performers! Learn More

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with Piano: In the preface to the score the composer writes, "At the first light of day, before sunrise, the world is slowly coaxed from its slumber." With its quiet, lyrical opening and pauses, this beautiful work embodies this sense of awakening as it gradually becomes more animated and energetic. Learn More

Flute, Oboe and Clarinet Learn More

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The atmosphere of a festive gathering with elegant and elaborate costumes is the inspiration for the six movements of this work. Featured are the dignity and regalness of an "Emperor" and a "Queen," the humor of a "Harlequin," the dignified progression of a "Promenade," the capriciousness in "Caprices" of unexpected words and actions by the guests, and the heroic excitement of a knight-errant in "Paladin." Score and parts are included. Learn More

with Piano: This work displays the oboe in a characteristically lyric, songlike style, contrasting with a more active, middle section featuring impressionistic piano arpeggios. The overall mood is one suggesting the bittersweet nostalgia of autumn. Learn More

with Piano

Lon W. Chaffin says, “This set portrays a journey of personal transformation, from solitude and questioning to discovery and interaction. It was inspired by paintings created by a friend and Texas artist, Cathie Tyler, as well as from the writing of Henry David Thoreau in his book Walden. The title of each movement depicts a phase of the journey – Solitude, Mystery, Illumination and Dialogue. The subtitles address artistic aspects of each painting as well as allude to the personal transformation.”

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unaccompanied: Inspired by the music of great Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev. Ashley Floyd states on the preface page, "Prokofiev composed some of my favorite excerpts for the oboe (The Love for Three Oranges, Peter and the Wolf, and the First Symphony come immediately to mind) and my piece is a homage to the great master." The work is built on two contrasting ideas. The first consists of short, violent outbursts based around the E-flat minor chord. These snippets of the E-flat minor triad are changed one pitch at a time, leading the harmony toward more distant and dissonant tonal areas. As these small outbursts grow more urgent, they gradually give way to longer note values transforming the music from menacing to a sweeter, more lyrical style. These two styles fight for prominence. The lyrical music seems to win out until the exciting climax during which the E-flat minor triad returns as a full two-octave arpeggio before breaking apart again into the agitated opening material. Learn More

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with Piano: This beautiful work captures the serenity of musing by the sea. On the preface page to the score is printed the following free verse by the composer. It is suggested that the poem be narrated immediately before the performance and/or printed in the program notes to set the mood for the music: “On the shore of eternity swirling currents of liquid chaos gather for and disperse as foam. As rock wears to sand all dissonance transforms to serenity. Time presses no longer.” ©Brixton Publications Learn More