Hans Werner Henze Doppio Concerto per Oboe, Arpa, ed Archi (1966). Performed by Joel Marangella, oboe and Karen Lindquist, harp on September 9, 1972 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. To my knowledge this is the first performance of the work in the US by artists other than Heinz and Ursula Holliger. The Holligers have recorded the concerto (on DGG 139396).
Heinz Holliger Siebengesang for oboe, orchestra, and women's voices. Performed by the composer at a Prom concert in the Round House in London, in August. The London Times reviewer calls Holliger not only a virtuoso soloist but a virtuoso composer for the instrument, "extending its range with incredible simultaneous chords and with amplification and distortions obtained by a microphone fitted inside the instrument".
Ralph Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto (1944). The centenary of Vaughan Williams' birth in November, 1972, has been the occasion for many performances of this lovely work. Evelyn Rothwell reports that she will perform it nine times this season; the editor has recently performed it with the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra (under Thor Johnson); and Evelyn McCarty (on the faculty of Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, Texas) included the concerto on her October 22 recital program.
J.S. Bach Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in A Major (BWV 1055) - reconstructed for oboe d'amore and orchestra. Performed by Michael Henoch (of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) on August 9, 1972 with the Peninsula Festival Orchestra in Wisconsin, Thor Johnson conducting. Mr. Henoch suggests that the oboe d'amore may well have been the original solo instrument for this concerto, since most of Bach's harpsichord concerti were arrangements of solo concerti for other instruments. He also quotes Karl Geiringer's suggestion that that triple harpsichord concerto (1063) may originally have been for violin, flute, and oboe! The d'amore concerto is recorded by Holliger (on DGG 139432), a recording that includes other interesting Bach reconstructions.
Greg Steinke (oboe instructor at the University of Maryland) presented an unusually interesting recital at the National Gallery in Washington in May, 1972. The program included the Piston Suite; the Duet for Oboe and Horn from Music for Wind Instruments by John Cage; Gunther Schuller's Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Viola, Op. 13; Paul Harder's Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1966); Music for Three (1972) by Mr. Steinke; and the Loeffler Rhapsodies.
The sonata by Paul Harder received its first Washington performance in this recital. It is a beautifully constructed serial piece, with a most expressive slow movement. Materials are available from the composer (c/o Music Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48823).
Mr. Steinke's Music for Three (for oboe, guitar, and percussion) will be published by Seesaw early in 1973. He has also composed an impressive and difficult Sonata for oboe, oboe d'amore, and English horn, also scheduled for publication in the coming year. Both works are highly recommended.