Ralph Vaughan Williams - Oboe Concerto - I. Rondo Pastorale: Allegro moderato

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Oboe Concerto in A minor with Strings (1944) 1. Rondo Pastorale
2. Minuet And Musette
3. Finale

Celia Nicklin, oboe
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner

Pigeonholed by many as an English nationalist composer, Vaughan Williams is under-appreciated despite his nine masterful symphonies. His compositions, like those of Dvorák and Bartok, were influenced and colored by the nationality of their composer, but were not dominated by it. Vaughan Williams sought to free English music from foreign domination so that it would truly be the music of the English people. It took a strong man to reject the overpowering German Romantic tradition. Undaunted, Vaughan Williams did just that; his music derives its character from English folk song and the English choral tradition. As an old man he said, to this day, the Beethoven idiom repels me. Rejected by Elgar, he took lessons from both the Frenchman Maurice Ravel and the German Max Bruch, but absorbed technique, not their style.
The last fifteen years of Vaughan Williamss life brought with them unprecedented creativity. In 1953, he told a friend: I have so much music in my head I know I will never have time to write it down. Perhaps it was his experience writing film music that accounts for the new energy, expansiveness and rich sonorities in his late work.
The Concerto for Oboe was written in 1944 for the virtuoso Leon Goossens. The intended premiere on July 5, 1944 was cancelled due to German bombing. The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Sargent, gave the first performance in Liverpool on September 30, 1944.
Composed on the threshold of Vaughan Williams late style, the oboe concerto originates from a discarded sketch for the scherzo of his Symphony #5 in D major. Thus, the concerto shares the same style as the fifth symphony rather than being imbued with his late orchestral sound.
This concertos formidable difficulties are a challenge to the soloist; it must be handled deftly to avoid sounding awkward. However, between its poignancy and occasional chattering, the oboes finest attributes are exploited. Vaughan Williams eliminates the orchestral ritornello dictated by classic rondo form, according the soloist little opportunity for rest. The oboe, unlike the piano, isnt a great concerto instrument. Not only can its distinctive timbre tire the ear, but also the orchestra easily overwhelms it. In order to expose the solo line, Vaughan Williams reduces the orchestra to 11 stands for much of the movement: there are only 30 bars of full tutti.
A lightweight first movement, the Rondo Pastorale is deliberately small. The plastic Rondo features the oboe with a rather innocuous melody in the Dorian mode. The goal of this movement is the cadenza. The weight of the concerto is in the finale. ~ J. Sundram

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ralph
• vaughan
• williams
• oboe
• concerto

[Epogdous]

@myukguk @jamesoboe @SamiclausGAK Thanks for letting me know who is playing. I add the credits in the description box. Celia Nicklin is a refined performer.

[babyoboe]

I'm currently learning this concerto. In what era was it written?

[Epogdous]

@babyoboe It' was written in 1944.

[babyoboe]

@Epogdous early romantic era :)

[Epogdous]

@babyoboe Actually early romantic era comprises the period 1800-1850. I think that such a work could be classified as neoclassic in structure and nationalist in style. :)

[wroclawmonkey]

I find it rather unacceptable you don't even say who is playing.

[Epogdous]

The fact is that unfortunately I don't know who is playing! I generally write it if I don't know who the performers are. I apologize for leaving it behind this time. ^.^'

[Lewellah]

This is a very lovely piece, reminds me of flying my kite on a windy day on top of a hill where the wind catches ones long hair and dress and there is a feeling of elation as the kite soars. :)

[DShane99]

Thanks for uploading this.

[MaryMusic88]

hi! I'd like to play this music, could you send it to me by email please?

[Lewellah]

This is a very lovely piece, reminds me of flying my kite on a windy day on top of a hill where the wind catches ones long hair and dress and there is a feeling of elation as the kite sours. :)

[KrillLiberator]

Why is this so underrated and frankly a rather neglected piece within the repertoire? I have a huge soft spot for this concerto, but then as a pansy southerner living amongst the green and pleasant bits ( and with a lake or two nearby) I guess 'The Duck Ascending'* touches me in a particularly romantic way...

*and no, I can't remember who coined that faux-derogatory nickname, lol; can someone please enlighten me?

[swimm4liffee]

Thank you so much for putting this up!! I really like how you even put the score in accordance with the music :) Really helpful!!

[aerodynamite88]

Vaughan-Williams is very quickly becoming my favorite composer of all time. Watch out Beethoven!

[oboist66]

I wondered who this was...then I listened to the oboe play...of course! It's Celia Nicklin!

[EnixQueen]

whoever is playing makes it sound so easy

[oboelover13]

definitely my favourite recording of this song, and i've heard it quite a few times. very lovely.