The Stanford Serenade was written for Donald Leake, distinguished Los Angeles oboist, and in honor of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Sandor Salgo; it was given its first performance by these artists on May 24, 1970. Donald Leake studied the oboe with Cecil Tozier, Henri de Busscher, and Florimand de Langhe. He is well-known for his performance of the Stockhausen Zeitmasse in its first recording. He is also professor of oral surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles and dental director and chief of oral surgery at the Harbor General Hospital at Torrance, California.
Completed at Mills College on April 25, 1969, the Stanford Serenade is scored for solo oboe and the following instruments: flute (alternating with piccolo), clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, percussion, harp, 1st violin, 2d violin, viola, cello, and bass. In his program note for the premiere performance, Edward Colby writes: "Milhaud's tribute to Stanford exhibits the qualities of clarity, rhythmic vitality and wide-ranging lyricism which have become hallmarks of the composer's style, and which figure conspicuously in his national heritage. Good natured humor is found not only in the details but also in structural features of the work, such as shifts which result in subtle changes in the harmonic milieu provided for the soloist by the accompanying ensemble. The second movement (slow and peaceful) has at the opening a quiet pastoral quality which develops into a brief rhapsodic flight. The melody and mood of the opening return, but with elaboration in both the solo and accompanying parts. Dominating the final movement are the rhythmic features of the gigue, whose drive is accented by rhythmically displaced chords. The bouncy movement is interrupted by a cadenza for the solo instrument, following which the ensemble resumes the chase, to be joined by the soloist for the final measures." The Stanford Serenade is published by Elkan Vogel.
The title page and first manuscript pages of the Stanford Serenade.