Le Api (1874) by Antonio Pasculli

Le Api (The Bees) (1874) is as much a character study of the performer as it is of bees. Considered virtually unplayable because of its daring writing, this oboe piece can only be performed by a virtuoso that has mastered the skill of circular breathing (storing air in the mouth to keep the sound going while taking quick breathes through the nose). Pasculli is considered "the Paganini of the oboe" and Le Api was written as one of three virtuosic studies for the oboe, composed before Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumble Bee. Performed on xylophone this afternoon, Le Api serves as a light, yet showy finish.

Program Note by Justin R. Stolarik

Category:

Music

Tags:

• le
• api
• antonio
• pasculli
• justin
• stolarik
• percussion
• texas
• xylophone

[erynies1978]

As good as his performance is you should hear the original for oboe and piano.

[datimpster]

Thank you. I own the oboe/piano performance on CD with Christopher Redgate performing.

[jasperwentink]

Very nice, beautiful cress. Is this work a copy of the piece for Oboe and Piano?

[datimpster]

Indeed!  I played right off the oboe part. Thanks for watching!

[PSearPianist]

That's a great video. Where was the performance given, and who arranged the piece for xylophone?

[datimpster]

Thanks so much!  That was from my DMA 1 Recital performance at the University of Texas at Austin. I didn't actually arrange it, but played it right off of the oboe part! Thanks for watching.

[addicted2shops]

@LocustAnarchy learn the piece then tell me there isnt a few wrong notes :P

[ElizabethJiang]

Oh, It sounds like spirit, not bees.

[MrNoelJMIS]

WOW! I didn't think this would work...I'm very impressed!!!

[MrGipeto66]

molto più bello allo xylofono che a quella paperella dell'oboe|

[Xmasreturns]

Amusingly, a recording from the end of last year was just posted on youtube. I don't recall the exact name, but it was posted on 2-27-10 and played on 12-29-09. It's quite fantastic.

[LocustAnarchy]

It isn't random wrong notes. He never messed up.

[hotuser2]

sounds similar like Erinnerung an Zirkus Renz

[TwelveToneRow]

Omg, I love it!

[monytis]

could u send me the notes ?

[adoixnasa]

amazing!