Albrecht Mayer, the oboist on this album, was fascinated by the human voice as a boy soprano with the Bamberg Cathedral Choir.
Instruments
The sound of oboes between 1880 and 1950 in France was often described as 'acidic, very thin, a little aggressive,' which may explain why composers like Debussy and Ravel did not write solo concertos for it.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Hector Berlioz, a 19th-century French composer, praised the oboe's ability to convey 'candour, naïve grace, sentimental delight, or the suffering of weaker creatures' in his 1844 Treatise on Modern Orchestration and Instrumentation.
Interpretation
Albrecht Mayer transforms the oboe into an 'irresistible Vox Humana' through his playing, casting a spell on listeners.
Critical Reception
Albrecht Mayer was the first oboist to be catapulted into the classical music charts with his 2003 Bach album, Lieder ohne Worte.
Historical Context
The Baroque era was the 'golden age' of the oboe, when it became a favorite solo instrument, particularly in Venice and among composers like Bach and Handel.
Compositional Technique
The oboe's distinctive 'singing' tone comes from its conical bore, which produces tension-filled vibrations in the air column.
You might also enjoy...
Händel Telemann
Handel: Oboe Concertos
Dreams
Oboe Concertos
Schroeter & Mozart: Keyboard Concertos (Performed on Harp)
Mozart: Works for Oboe and Orchestra / Piano
Baermann & Mendelssohn: Works for Clarinet
Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F Major / Pierne: Piece / Mcalister: Vergene / Williams: 6 Studies
