Oboe Solo - looking for constructive feedback

hey yall

my oboe professor at the uni I go to asked the composition students to write her a brief solo.  So here's what I wrote!  

For background, im a percussionist (drum set battery focus) and this is my second time composing something tonal.

The tempo rubato section is to be played with the idea of circular breathing encouraged.

I won't comment on the music itself except it's light, energetic and would need a truly accomplished player, especially if you're asking for circular breathing. To me it's fine. It works. I felt the rapid passage from bar 120 to 133 was a little long without a pause. Notably though you've given good pauses for breathing - you probably already know this but (for others) oboists need little breath to play so it isn't easy to gasp a new breath in - they have to exhale as fully as they can to take a new breath or run the risk of getting dizzy. Beethoven wrote some lovely oboe lines but at times they can be tiring to play I'm told!

Your mentor should be pleased - and I hope she'll have a go playing it for you.

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Hello @skvlkin,

The use of opening motive is apparent throughout the piece, so that’s the mouse haha? I feel like b.108 and 120 doesn’t fit into the piece since they are quite in Baroque style, apart from the other sections. I think you can modulate to other keys too, rather than staying in C minor most of the time! Thx for sharing.

Henry

1 hour ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hello @skvlkin,

The use of opening motive is apparent throughout the piece, so that’s the mouse haha? I feel like b.108 and 120 doesn’t fit into the piece since they are quite in Baroque style, apart from the other sections. I think you can modulate to other keys too, rather than staying in C minor most of the time! Thx for sharing.

Henry

 

thanks henry!

would you consider shifting keys/tonal center in this short of a piece? i considered doing the rubato section in a more modal manner but decided to keep it tonic.  

As an Oboist this seems more of an exercise/etude.  I did not notice any particular difficulties except in measure 117 with the high F.  The fingerings above D are a bit complex depending on your Oboe and alternate/fingerings.  And of as stated - one needs to breathe.

Mark

1 minute ago, MJFOBOE said:

As an Oboist this seems more of an exercise/etude.  I did not notice any particular difficulties except in measure 117 with the high F.  The fingerings above D are a bit complex depending on your Oboe and alternate/fingerings.  And of as stated - one needs to breathe.

Mark

 

thank you mark! i wrote this to be perceived as an etude, hopefully to accompany a group of similar pieces.

For fingerings, is it common for different performers to have different oboe TYPES?  Different fingerings across multiple different oboes? 

Some Oboe makes enable different fingerings ... for example on my Marigaux I can use a simpler alternate finger for the High F which would make it easier to play measure 117.  The same alternate finger on another make might not work as well.  High registers on Oboes can and do have alternate fingerings.  Yes, there are any Oboe manufacturers ... each with their own charms.

Mark