Mes Amis (2017, rev. 2021)
Instrumentation: oboe solo
Duration: 8 minutes
Duration: 8 minutes
Program Note:
While studying at the Jacobs School of Music, I was fortunate to be friends with two wonderful oboists, JJ Silvey and Alaina Chester. Through Mes Amis I wanted to capture their bright, fun personalities and their aptitude for silly and sassy banter. All of this is portrayed through three recurring musical themes. First, a saucy and indulgent burlesque that meanders about with occasional surprises and bursts of fast notes. More frenzied is the second theme, darting around the oboe's full range with a flurry of scalar passages and curt chirping, laughing gestures. The last theme is the gentlest, a sweet and lyrical waltz with a Parisian-like lilt. It was natural for French musical influences to color this composition because JJ, Alaina, and I all carry a special fondness for French composers, especially Francis Poulenc! Mes Amis was composed in the spring of 2017 for my friends and revised in 2021 for publication.
While studying at the Jacobs School of Music, I was fortunate to be friends with two wonderful oboists, JJ Silvey and Alaina Chester. Through Mes Amis I wanted to capture their bright, fun personalities and their aptitude for silly and sassy banter. All of this is portrayed through three recurring musical themes. First, a saucy and indulgent burlesque that meanders about with occasional surprises and bursts of fast notes. More frenzied is the second theme, darting around the oboe's full range with a flurry of scalar passages and curt chirping, laughing gestures. The last theme is the gentlest, a sweet and lyrical waltz with a Parisian-like lilt. It was natural for French musical influences to color this composition because JJ, Alaina, and I all carry a special fondness for French composers, especially Francis Poulenc! Mes Amis was composed in the spring of 2017 for my friends and revised in 2021 for publication.