Author: jamesoboe
Date: 2004-08-01 10:05
Dear Jryanaus
interesting to hear Bruce Haynes has relocated to Montreal. I'm wondering if there is a particular ensemble there he works with. Bound to be. As luck would have it, I bought Daniel Taylor's Portrait CD which has selected highlights of some of his recordings. The last track is from his Bach CD and has an aria with Bruce Haynes playing. I seem to recall, however, having difficulty getting hold of it.
Dear Obois - I've only played a handful of Bruckner's symphonies, but not his sixth. I'm not familiar with it. Bruckner's symphonies are always a crowd-puller. One thing I can tell you is, they are absolute jaw-breakers to play; moreso than Mahler, and almost as much as Strauss!
As regards Vaughan Williams, I know exactly how you feel. There is, for me, something very special about his symphonies. I'm presently listening to his London Symphony. The Slow movement is so moving. Some of the harmonies underneath the solos and melodies are just heartbreaking. The Cor Anglais opens and almost closes the second movement. I always sense great nostalgia and very real melancholia throughtout his music; this is a man who lived through two world wars! There is a festival of his music in Dorking, UK, if memory serves. I had the pleasure of being asked to play for one of their festivals, sitting next to Malcolm Messiter. Everything was Vaughan Williams - portraits, music etc. It was such a laugh sitting next to Malcolm - so talented, but with the right attitude to the profession to maintain one's sanity. Some moments to watch out for in his symphonies are the Epilogue of no. 9 (poor first oboe); the above-mentioned cor solos in the 2nd mvt. of the London; the 3rd mvt. of his 5th symph. for cor, and later, oboe and cor duets. Of course, let's not forget his wonderful oboe concerto. I always try to tone down its pastoral elements and crank-up its moments of unease. It's really a greater piece than it's often given credit for!
I was wondering if anyone knew of any chamber music including oboe/cor by Charles Ives? I really like his music. There is something so acidic and original about his works. His 1st symphony only gives very few hints of what was to come later; I rather like the wistful cor solo in the second mvt. There is a symphonic mvt. by him; I believe its one of the Holiday Symphonic mvts., which slowly builds up to a towering climax then has a choir singing at the top of their voices for about 2 minutes. It's just so unexpected and powerful. It's one of my most moving moments in the symphonic repetoire. I've lost count of the number of times I've played it at full blast in my car while driving through the Scottish Highlands. Sublime!
Any Charles Ives' aficianados out there who might know something about oboe/cor works by him? Please leave a message.
Regards
James
Post Edited (2004-08-14 19:32)
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
