Author: Dutchy
Date: 2010-12-10 16:37
I would like to mention that a certain number of professional "concert" oboists, that is, oboists who make a living giving concerts, can sometimes feature repertoire that is way-out-there difficult and/or cutting-edge avant-garde, which is not something that's likely to inspire a student oboist, especially one whose music taste may not be developed enough to be able to appreciate what he's hearing. He's up to the level of Bach's "Sinfonia", but he may not "get" the Strauss oboe concerto or something at that level.
So, what I would do for him is to investigate music recitals, both faculty and student, at the universities and colleges that you have access to, there in Michigan. UM is just a starting point; here's a list. I haven't checked them all out personally, but the majority of them will have a music department that will feature both oboe faculty and oboe student recitals during the school year. These concerts are always free, and will give a young oboist a better overview of what good oboe-playing sounds like than he may possibly get from traveling in a single visit to Chicago to a highly-touted concert by a famous oboist, which may feature pieces that are, to his sensibilities, non-tuneful and incomprehensible. Young oboists should listen to music that makes them say, "I wanna play THAT!". The Strauss oboe concerto doesn't always make kids go, "That. I want that."
ETA: College recitals, both faculty and student, also frequently feature woodwind chamber music (quintets, trios, etc.) where the oboe is not necessarily a soloist, so it would be good for him to listen to those, too. There's a Mozart Divertimento for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon that made me go, "That. I want that."
Post Edited (2010-12-10 16:42)
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