New Music for  New Oboe

Through the generosity of the AHRC I have been able to commission five composers to write works specifically for the new oboe.

I will be working collaboratively with each of the composers during the writing of these works as we together explore the potential of the new instrument.

The five composers have been chosen for several reasons.

1.     I have chosen composers whose music I particularly like and with whom I have had some kind of musical working relationship.

2.     The composers have all written for the oboe before – several of them specifically for me. They therefore have a very good idea of how to write for the instrument in its traditional form.

3.     I wanted composers who will ask significant questions and who have musical and intellectual curiosity, who would not simply settle for writing in the known areas of the instrument but have the vision and skills to explore the new instrument.

The five composers I have chosen are:

Brian Ferneyhough – who is writing a quartet for oboe and string trio.

Michael Finnissy – who is writing a work for oboe doubling Lupophon (a new design of bass oboe) and piano.

Edwin Roxburgh – Has written a work for oboe and piano titled The Well Tempered Oboe (25 minutes). The work was first performed at the Royal Academy of Music on the 2nd November 2011 with Stephen Robbings at the piano.  

Sam Hayden – who is writing a work that can be performed in two different ways: for solo oboe or for oboe and small ensemble.

Richard Barrett – who is also writing a work, which can be performed in two different ways: for solo oboe and live electronics or for solo oboe, ensemble and electronics.