Romance for Oboe, Viola, and Piano

Hi all, here is a composition I began in 2011.  I rediscovered it in my computer files and decided to rework it and give it some new life.  Hope you enjoy the work.  All comments welcome as usual.

Edited December 8, 2025Dec 8 by MJFOBOE

i really love the interplay between the instruments here. the way the themes and counterpoints are bounced around the three instruments is also really playful. the ending tied the piece neatly and satisfyingly. it matched the vibe of the whole piece well.

it's cool how you used the two modes (mixolydian and pentatonic minor) to differentiate between the sections. i especially really like the second theme.

thanks for sharing !!!

Hi again @MJFOBOE!

I like the piece overall.  The only thing that bothered me is some of the inconsistent articulations.  I think I hear the figure in the Viola at bar 2, 4 and 102 and 104 as if it should be legato but you have it separated.  Later on in the piece you slur those notes both in the Piano and the Viola so to me it seems inconsistent.  And the staccato and separated version of it sounds really mechanical imo.  Thanks for sharing this playful piece!

I agree with PeterthePapercomPoser, I don't like this midi version at all considering articulation. I believe the piece is all legato, these non legatos at least here sound like quasi staccatos. If you wanted staccato as a contrast, you should have written it in the score. How about pizzicatos instead of these non legato passages? I personally would use legato slurs all the time since the character of the piece is calm and melodic. The organic flow of key changes sounds nice, while the middle sounds almost stuck too much in diatonic c minor although I believe it is done on purpose: the a section has a chromatic flow, while the b section does not.

Thanks for everyone's feedback.   I'll review the articulations with your suggestions in mind.

Mark