Dear Guests,
With this blog, I hope to briefly introduce you to the various categories and books within those categories of musical works available to you, so you can make the proper selection for your own purposes.
There are 3 main categories:
solo oboe
oboe ensemble
oboe in ensemble (meaning oboe with other instruments)
*These works are utilized as curriculum at the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatoire in Paris, France and some other schools internationally as well.
Level of Difficulty i.e. skill level required 1 - 6
D1 is NOT a primer and requires the student to be musically literate and with a working skill set of how to play the oboe - i.e. breathing, counting, fingerings, embouchure, posture.
None of the works listed below are in the Ionian mode - Major scale. (I feel there is an amble amount of it and if I’m not careful, I will DIE of overdose…) They are all in standard western classical notation on the staff. Almost all are in meters. There are just a few multi phonics, when artistically appropriate, all of which can be substituted by playing 3rd line B …. until multi phonics are learned and embraced psychologically for those who haven’t gotten there yet….
Within these categories there are other categories:
flower collection, raven collection, etudes, works in progress - as parts of incomplete collections
PERFORMANCE PRACTICE NOTES: Helpful advice and good to know.
1) Accidentals apply to same pitch named note regardless of octave within the same measure for the part of that one instrument
2) Please observe key signatures as they are not limited to the traditional Ionian mode!!!! Word to the wise, it is very helpful to write out the scale - steps 1 - 8 and get comfy with it before learning the piece itself.
3) Instrumentalists are free to ignore multi - phonics ( yet discouraged to ignore) and instead play 3rd line B. Also, instrumentalists can choose any multi-phonic of his/her choosing as it works best artistically with one’s instrument. I have added suggestions based on sounds called forth in relationship to the harmonies in relationship with the melody. However, every instrument and reed vary.
4) All tempi, dynamics, articulations are suggestions - except usually - in cased of études. Once the piece as written is learned, musicians are free (and encouraged) to perform/enjoy one’s own artistic interpretation. I simply offer one that works - IMHO!
5) Feel free to ask me ANY and all questions you may have as long as I’m alive. (Besides I’d love to make your acquaintance!)
6) Please honor all rhythms, notes and rhythmic ratios, to the very best of your technical ability. Allow your interpretations to be limited to the dynamics, articulations, tempi and emotional tone. Changing the notes or rhythms is over the line. Please don’t cross it if you can avoid it. Thank you.
7) The emotional sweep of a phrase and overall gist of the music is priority and is best not to sacrifice that for the precision of every note. Of course, get all of it to the best of your ability, but once you’ve done your homework and it’s time to perform the music - let go, have fun, do your best, pour your heart out, and go for the phrase and hope all the details fall into place.
8) ENJOY - life is short!
SOLO OBOE BOOKS
IN ADORATION OF THE EARTH * (recordings of three of these études on front page of Muse Echo)
(Etude XI is Raven - therefore part of the Raven collection)
12 rapidly progressing oboe études D1-D6
Starting with limited pitch range and rapidly expanding.
If you only buy ONE book from Oboe Brilliance - THIS is it.
(It will also serve as a training to best understand, teach, and enjoy ALL subsequent music of K.J.P..)
Moving forward reviewing and building upon skills - dynamics, en harmonics, articulation, pitch range, 1.4 tones, multi-phonics, harmonics, odd meters, odd key signatures, modes, tonal, chromatic, tonal - free, syncopation, utilizing SILENCE, cultivating imagination and philosophy, cultivating artistry - independent and persnickety. Builds up to and including TOP OCTAVE.
As a friend says “Something for everyone!”
This book has a few works that are excellent performance pieces for solo oboe - including metered minor mode works as well as those employing modern techniques.
It really covers pertinent bases in a way that is friendly and accessibly. PERFECT as a warm up cover to cover for virtuoso oboists. Most pieces could be included into a solo recital, some as an encore piece.
I composed these etudes custom for individual students in my music school as a way to meet under served needs in both pedagogy and artistry. In addition, I add my own philosophy with poetry and the suggestion to imagine experiencing life AS the animal sonically portrayed while performing the piece, which I use as a foundation to cultivate compassionate and broad thinking artistry.
SOLO BOOKS IN THE 100 FLOWER SERIES - in ORDER OF SKILL REQUIRED
This series is designed so that oboists can “pick this and that flower from this or that book to make a unique bouquet suitable for any recital or practice session”. They are all artsy and maximum expression is encouraged. Each piece is a sonic portrait of a flower. Each books of different flowers is organized alphabetically within each book, exception only for a dozen roses….
ILLUMINATIONS * - part of the 100 Flower Collection
23 mostly very short pieces for solo oboe portraying flowers D1 - D3+
Like a good fairy tale, this book is written for ALL ages - and skill levels to enjoy.
YES, it is ideal for 1st and 2nd year students, however, it makes for excellent sight reading for advanced students, and most works are suitable for adding enjoyment for amateur adults, and professionals library.
They are not too difficult, but are all rather unique and therefor adds some tasty flavors to ones. musical pantry. None of the works are in Ionian mode. Some are modal, synthetic modes, some 12 tone rows. All are in conventional meters. I’ve used this book for many beginning students along with In Adoration of the Earth and other methods. This book is endorsed by the AFH.
ARC EN CIEL* - part of the 100 Flower Collection
16 short pieces for oboe solo sonically portraying flowers (D2 - D4++)
(HOWEVER - most of these solo works are ideal for OBOE D’AMORE! - without transposing - play as you read it.)
Most are metered, some are free of meter.
A DOZEN ROSES *- part of the 100 Flower Collection
12 movements, each sonically portraying a rose in various stages of blooming. A returning theme occurs throughout not necessarily in development but in slight variations. Movement 12 is a recapitulation and extension of movement 1. D3-D5+
The entire book is designed to be performed cover to cover - and can be individually selected to add in a bouquet. Performance time about 22 minutes
please note : Feel free to ditch grace notes above 2nd ledger line D. Drop the note entirely or play down an octave if you prefer. Some editions are incorrect with the grace notes. It’s a bit out of my control and I apologize.
VISIONS - part of the 100 Flowers Collection
10 pieces for solo oboe. D5-D6
This book is for professional level players and Virtuoso. It requires both willingness and ability to play the top octave - mind you it is all very doable and written in a way in which oboists can perform these works with artistry and control of these top pitches. This isn’t a book of fast music.
FANTASIAS I - IV
for solo flute or oboe D5 - full performance register range of the oboe
composed and released in 2020
Inspired by Telemann XII flute fantasias which I’ve played on both flute and oboe.
All four are metered and have a tonic. All four Fantasias have a somewhat modern 2nd movement, however, I think it works in context.)
Fantasias I and II have F tonic.
Fantasia I is mostly composed in F Lydian with a flat 7 (F, G, A, B, C, D, Eb, F)
Fantasia II F minor - mostly
Fantasia III C Lydian - mostly
Fantasia IV C minor - mostly - (this one is the prettiest - I think - the least technically demanding of the four the four and the one that works better “under the fingers”. The others are more challenging to get under the fingers and require more concentration.
POETRY for solo oboe Vol.1 n.1, D4-D5
10 poems, poems 1 - 10, composed in Spring/Summer 2020 and released in Dec. 2020
Each poem works independently and the book works sequentially.
in 2020, I began a new project - the Poetry Project, in which I compose poems for solo oboe, life long moving forward, as and when I am able. Inspired in part by the term tone poem for orchestra, I have the following criteria for my own form of poetry for solo oboe.
My criteria is:
short - one movement poem
emotionally rich
deeply personal
comprised with a focus towards repetitive rhythmic and interval based patterns.
akin to poetry
OBOE ENSEMBLE - all are part of the RAVEN COLLECTION
All works in the Raven collection are dramatic and seriously fun.
Perfect for artsy teenagers and conservatory students.
Duets
THE SECRET OF RAVENS* - part of the RAVEN collection
(Recordings of 2 of these duets on cover page of Muse Echo)
7 intermediate level duets D3-D4
serious fun - highly recommended
I composed this for an adult oboe student for us to play.
Ideal for friends, students to play together, student and teacher.
Performance time - about 20 - 25 minutes
Garden Dance - one movement duet in two versions D3
one version is a same instrument version
excellent for two oboes, or two oboe d’amores (as written) , or two flutes,
the other for oboe on the first part and oboe d’amore on the second part
Lovely, flowing 7/8 meter. Peaceful, modern with echos of baroque with use of mordants.
Quartets
FLYING WITH RAVENS INTO THE NIGHT* - part of the RAVEN collection
composed in 2010
(recorded performance on YouTube - by composition name, in the premiere performance in Portugal)
D4-D5 I composed this for my oboe studio to perform. Ideal for artsy teen aged and college students.
This is the first in a collection of 4 in progress. Performance time about 4 minutes.
FLYING WITH RAVENS INTO THE SUN* - part of the RAVEN collection
released in 2018
D4-D5 This is the second in a collection of 4 in progress. Performance time about 4 minutes
OBOE IN ENSEMBLE
DUETS
THE MOTHER & SON MASK PROJECT - D3-D4 piano level. D3-D4 oboe level
composed in 2015 - 2016, released in 2018
12, 2 voice melodies ideal for piano solo, or duets for C instruments such as oboe and bassoon, or flute and cello. One for each month of the year. Each are modal, moody, metered, and short. Intensely influenced by my studies of Bartok, but these are more feminine and mysterious. My son Ivan, created masks. This work was a collaboration. Ivan, would design a 2D mask portraying the “GIST” of the month as he experienced it, and I composed in a 2 voice melody, the “GIST” of the month as I experienced it.
PAS DE DEUX no.1
composed in 2019, released in 2020
(recording of this work on Home Page of this website)
for oboe and piano
This is first in a collection of four - collection in progress.
about 6 1/2 minutes
D4 tonal, passionate, romantic, dramatic. 4/4 3/4 very accessible and classically constructed.
Garden Dance - one movement duet in two versions D3
1) one version is a same instrument version - no need to transpose, therefor excellent for two oboes or 2 d’amores, or 2 clarinets, 2 flutes, or same keyed instrument - for example flute and oboe
the other version is for oboe on the first part and oboe d’amore on the second part
Lovely, flowing 7/8 meter. Peaceful, modern with echos of baroque with use of mordants.
This piece was premiered on March 8, 2020 in Paris, France. Marika Lombardi performed the oboe part, and I performed the oboe d’amore part. This was listed as the 2nd duet in a set of several duets in a collection called Spring Dances, however, I decided to edit this work when I returned from Paris.
That performance was recorded - I might make a YouTube out of the recording…..stay tuned.
ON QUIET WATER
for baritone tenor voice and oboe or flute D3
composed in 1988 and released in 2020
premiered on my senior recital at the S.F. Conservatory of Music by
vocalist James Striby and flautist Lars Johannsesson
TRIO
Dreams of the Black Swan
(released in 2018)
trio for flute, oboe and bassoon
13 moody, mysterious, dreamy!
(performance time in total about 30 minutes)
D2 - D4
QUINTET
SONGES D’UN CŒUR ÉPRIS
(recording of the French premiere is on YouTube - Oboe Brilliance Channel)
wood wind quintet no. 1
flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon
D3- D4 performance time about 8 - 9 minutes
A commissioned work, composed for the Medieval Festival celebrating French culture.
I am from the compositional lineage of Darius Milhaud, and this work’s French premiere was in Tarascon - hometown to Darius Milhaud. Midieval influences are reflected within this metered, accessible work.
If you have ANY questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you. K.J.P.