English Oboe Concertos

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English Oboe Concertos

Alan Cuckston / ENP / Jill Crowther

(CD CDWHL2130)

£9.50

Following the White Line is certainly the right direction for the best of British Light Music! There have been no fewer than 15 great releases over the past couple of years, including three volumes of British Light Music Discoveries, and programmes with concertos by Horovitz, Lambert and Gardner. Now we have the first of a series of concerto concerts, each featuring a different solo instrument.
English Oboe Concertos presents the world premiere recordings of music by a quintet of first-rate British 20th century composers, four of them born between 1917 and 1929. The most substantial works are the Oboe Concertos by Kenneth Leighton - a fine piece not performed until last year - and by John Gardner. His 1990 composition, with its wonderfully soulful Adagio, makes an excellent companion to the Flute Concerto recently included on CD WHL 2125 ("An appealing collection of engaging music from a composer whose music deserves to be more widely known" Classic CD.) Michael Hurd is not otherwise even listed in the Classical Catalogue, yet his Concerto da Camera is a real delight, overflowing with beautiful melody.

The three concertos are joined by attractive items that have been specially orchestrated for this recording: William Blezard's Two Celtic Pieces, and the Three Spanish Dances written by the composer who has also produced English Oboe Concertos and is masterminding the whole series, Philip Lane.

The brilliant soloist is Yorkshire-born Jill Crowther of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who makes her ASV debut with the most delectable playing.

"More please!" (Journal into Melody)

Tracklisting

  • 1/1. ‘Concerto da Camera - 1’ – Hurd, Michael (b.1928)
  • 1/2. ‘Concerto da Camera - 2’ – Hurd, Michael (b.1928)
  • 1/3. ‘Concerto da Camera - 3’ – Hurd, Michael (b.1928)
  • 1/4. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.23 (1953) - 1’ – Leighton, Kenneth (1929-1988)
  • 1/5. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.23 (1953) - 2’ – Leighton, Kenneth (1929-1988)
  • 1/6. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.23 (1953) - 3’ – Leighton, Kenneth (1929-1988)
  • 1/7. ‘Celtic Pieces, Two – 1. Highland Lament’ – Blezard, William (b.1921)
  • 1/8. ‘Celtic Pieces, Two – 2. Irish Whirligig’ – Blezard, William (b.1921)
  • 1/9. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.193 (1990) - 1’ – Gardner, John (b.1917)
  • 1/10. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.193 (1990) - 2’ – Gardner, John (b.1917)
  • 1/11. ‘Oboe Concerto, Op.193 (1990) - 3’ – Gardner, John (b.1917)
  • 1/12. ‘Spanish Dances, Three (1981) – 1. Malaguena’ – Lane, Philip (b.1950)
  • 1/13. ‘Spanish Dances, Three (1981) – 2. Habanera’ – Lane, Philip (b.1950)
  • 1/14. ‘Spanish Dances, Three (1981) – 3. Tango’ – Lane, Philip (b.1950)