New Music | Alex Klein (2024)

Osvaldo Lacerda, Brazilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osvaldo_Lacerda
Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (2004)

Commissioned by: Alex Klein
Orchestration: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 3 horns, percussion (timp), strings, Solo Oboe.

Premiere: January, 2005. Curitiba Music Workshop, Brazil. Alex Klein, soloist. Osvaldo Ferreira, conductor.

Duration: 17 minutes

Score and Parts: Academia Brasileira de Música:abmusica@abmusica.org.br edicoes.abm@abmusica.org.br

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Other oboe music by this composer:
For unaccompanied oboe:Improviso
For oboe and Piano:Sonata, Toada, Aboio, Variations on Carneirinho Carneirão, Valsa I, Valsa II, Canto Lírico.

Michael Daugherty, USA, (1954)https://michaeldaugherty.net/

"The Firecracker", for Oboe and Chamber Ensemble (1991)

Premiere:December 1988 / Finney Chapel, Oberlin, Ohio / Alex Klein, oboe / Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble / Larry Rachleff

Instrumentation: flute(picc), bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano,percussion, Solo Oboe

https://michaeldaugherty.net/works/small-chamber-ensemble/firecracker/

Program Notes: Firecracker(1991) is a concerto for solo oboe and chamber ensemble of flute(picc), bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion. It is a virtuosic piece spun off from the a motive, inspired by the diabolically difficult etudes of Antonio Pasculli (1842-1924), perhaps the greatest oboe virtuoso of his day: The musical fireworks are briefly interrupted by a playful tango interlude. The stereophonic stage arrangement of the ensemble emphasizes the deliberate spacial patterning of sound employed throughout the work, which I chose to call “visual music.”Firecrackercelebrates the rhythmic and explosive potential of the oboe and was written for Alex Klein, the award winning principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble.

–Michael Daugherty

Liduíno Pitombeira, Brazil,https://pitombeira.com/wp/

Seresta n. 17, for two oboists, op. 183(2012)

Duration: 8 minutes

Each oboist plays 3 instruments. Oboist1 plays Oboe, Oboe d'Amore and Musette. Oboist 2 plays Oboe, English Horn and Bass Oboe.

Parts: write to the composer atpitombeira@yahoo.com or through his site http://www.pitombeira.com

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Pawel Sydor, Poland, Virtutti Military, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1991-92)

Orchestration: Flute 1, Flute 2/Pic, Clarinete 1-2, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2/Cbs, Trumpet 1-2, Horns 1-2-3, Trombone 1, Tuba in C. Percussion (3 players minimum): 1: 4 timpani (32'', 28'', 26'', 23''); 2: Snare Drum, Whip, Bass Drum, Chimes, Vibraphone, Gong (medium), Xylophone, Wood Block (high), Crotale on "A"; 3)Triangle (medium), Bass Drum,Tam-Tam (large gong), Suspended Cymbal, Crush Cymbals, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Harp, Violin I (14), Violin I (12), Violin II (10), Viola (8), Violoncello (8), Bass (4).

Sample Recording:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KVcqIysWM&t=1241s

David Stock, USA, 1939-2015, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stock

Oborama (2010)

Commissioned by: Alex Klein

Orchestration: Percussion (1 player), Harp, Strings, Solo Oboe playing English Horn, Musette, Oboe d’amore, Bass Oboe and Oboe.

Duration: 17 minutes

Recording: BMOP/sound1047, February 2016

Mario Ulloa, Costa Rica,

Tontura (Dizziness)
Concert Etude for 5 oboes (2011)

Sample recording:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUORGCJoVIs

Fernando Morais (https://fernandomoraiscompositor.com.br/)

Elegia for Oboe and Piano (2007)

Parts may be obtained here:https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21791664

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Other oboe music by the composer: Ares Ibéricos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6d0m4WJmc0)

Marco Aurélio Yano, Brazil (1963-1991)

Modinha for Oboe, Viola and Piano (1984)

Parts not available at this moment.

Recording: Cedille Records, 2006. Alex Klein, Richard Young, viola, Ricardo Castro, piano

Marco Aurélio Yano, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1991)

Commissioned by: Alex Klein

Duration: 35 minutes

Orchestration: Piccolo, Flute 1 and 2, Oboe 1 and 2 (2 doubles on English Horn), Clarinete 1 and 2, Bassoon 1 and 2, Contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, Piano, Celesta, Synthesizer, Timpani, Percussion (5 players: antique cymbal, 2+ bongos, chimes, 2 congas, cymbal, sizzle cymbal, suspended cymbal, egg shaker, glockenspiel, gran cassa, guiro, gun shot, marimba, mark chimes, slap stick, snare drum, tambourine, tam-tam, temple blocks (3 sounds), 3+ tom-toms, triangle, 2 whistles, slide whistle, wood blocks (5 sounds), xylophone), strings, Solo Oboe.

Marco Aurélio Yano, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1991)

Piano Reduction

Oboe and Piano

Publisher: Laura Arganbright Publishing:https://www.laoboe.com/yano-concerto

Daniel Asia, USA, (1953)https://danielasia.net/

The Alex Set (1995)

Duration: 13 minutes
Solo Oboe. A complement to the earlier single-movement "Alex".

Parts and information may be obtained through the composer's site:https://danielasia.net/discography/the-alex-set-1995-2/
Composer's notes:In 1971, as an undergraduate at Hampshire College, and under the tutleage of Randall McClellan, I wrote the initial Alex. It was a few years latter, while on the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory, that I met the eminently gifted oboist, Alex Klein. A friendship blossomed, that has continued to this day. In the winter of 1995, Alex suggested that I write more music for oboe, perhaps a continuation of the Alex piece. After some hesitation (after all, the first Alex was already twenty-five years old, and my music has changed and developed considerably in this intervening period), I embarked on this project. The result is The Alex Set, which includes the first Alex as its first movement. Alex II and Alex III take as their starting point various rhythmic, pitch, and/or registral ideas from this first Alex, and can certainly be viewed as variations on it. The Interludes are just that. About the title. Titles of works are never easy for me. What exactly, is the relationship between a piece of music and its title anyway? I only remember, that when asked the name of the initial work, I knew it couldn’t be Steve, Bob, Josh, or even Gwen. So I settled on Alex- it just seemed to fit. Given latter developments, its clear that it did. Alex, for solo oboe, is one of my first mature works. Written for a colleague, while an undergraduate at Hampshire College, the three minute work is in one movement. It is built on a theme of two parts; a perfect fifth that rises and falls in simple time values, and the addition of a gracenote figure or turn, that is a minor third. In the development of this rather plaintive work, the latter theme gradually takes precedence, with a resultant increase in speed and intensity, and with the opening up, and filing in, of the musical space. Dynamics become louder, and the music finally pushes up to the highest register at the point of greatest intensity. The work takes a number of curious twists and turns, as befits a piece of improvisatory character such as this. There are pauses for reflection, brief interjections, and restatements. The conclusion, rather than ending with a period, finishes with a question mark, or perhaps better put, a raised eyebrow.

Richard Karpen, USA, (1957)https://richardkarpen.com/
Life Study II, for Amplified Oboe and Computer-Realized Sound (1993)

Parts:https://richardkarpen.com/solo-instrumental-including-works-with-electronics/

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Eddie Mora (1965) http://eddiemora.com/es/

Canto (2016)

Duration: 14 minutes
Orchestration: flute 1/piccolo, flute 2/alto flute, clarinet in b-flat, bass clarinet in b-flat, bassoon, trumpet in C, bass trombone, tuba, percussion 1 (timpani, crotales, tumblers), percussion 2 (3 suspended cymballs, vibraphone, drum set, bass tamtam, marimba, chequere), percussion 3 (bass drum, triangle, maracas, 3 suspended cymballs, glockenspiel, chinese boxes), harp, violas, cellos, basses, Oboe Solo.

Parts: http://eddiemora.com/es/ensambles-grandes-2/

James Stephenson, Duels and Dances (2010)

Duels and Dances (2011)

Commissioned by: Minnesota Commissioning Club

Piccolo, Flute 1-2; Clarinete 1-2, Bass clarinet; Bassoon (1); Alto, Tenor, Bass saxophone; Horn 1-2, Trumpet 1-2, Trombone 1-2, Bass trombone, Tuba, Piano, Harp, Timpani, Percussion (5 players, possibly 4). Solo Oboe using Bass Oboe, Oboe d’amore, English Horn, Musette and Oboe.

Premiere: March 4, 2011, Norfolk, VA. Alex Klein, soloist. The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, conducted by Major Jason K Fetig.
Recording and parts available at composer’s website:

https://composerjim.com/works/duels-and-dances/

NOTES from the composer:

The inspiration for Duels and Dances came, strangely enough, while attending a church service in my hometown of Lake Forest, IL. During the prelude (a baroque piece), I was struck by how interesting the music can be, even if only one or two voices are being used. This thought process led to the imagery of a soloist and ensemble “fighting” one another (admittedly this is not entirely original), which then in turn led to the concept of duels. The concerto is therefore largely built around “fight sequences”, where both soloist and ensemble participate in, or comment upon, music that suggests action of a aggressive nature. All music requires, or thrives on, contrast, of course, and that is where the dances come in.Alex Klein – for whom the concerto was written – is a musician of incomparable musicality, and I wanted to highlight this innate ability he possesses. The melodic material in his part is often accompanied by rhythmic counterpoint with a dance quality. Though not immediately related to the music of Prokofiev or Bernstein, I have always been struck by how their music is so dance-like, and therefore so human. Duels and Dances was commissioned by the wonderful Minnesota Commissioning Club, and I am deeply indebted to them for their continued support of my music. Along with the club, the piece is dedicated to Alex Klein, and to The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, all of whom are musicians of the highest degree, and for whom it is the ultimate pleasure to create music. Lastly, it should noted that the piece is a through-composed one-movement concerto, lasting roughly 13 minutes.It uses 5 different oboes (at Alex’s request) – in performance order: Bass oboe, Oboe d’amore, English horn, Oboe and Musette. There is also a version for the more common instruments of the oboe family: English horn and oboe.

James M. Stephenson – January, 2011

Joel-François Durand, France, (1954)https://www.joelfdurand.com/

LaMesure desChoses III. La Mesure de la Terre et du Feu (1999)

Instrumentation: Oboe and Viola

Premiere: January 2001, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. Alex Klein, oboe.

Duration: 12minutes
Parts:http://www.joelfdurand.com/publisher/

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Patricia Moreheadhttps://www.patriciamorehead.com/

Meditation and Exultation (2020)

Instrumentation: Oboe solo

Duration: 11 minutes
Parts:https://www.patriciamorehead.com/category/compositions/solo/

Composer's notes: "Meditation" is inspired by the feelings of awe, fear, and elation experienced by the Blessed Virgin Mary at the news brought by the angel Gabriel that she will conceive and bear the Son of God. "Exultation" portrays the five joyful mysteries (The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation and The Finding in the Temple) contemplated when praying the Holy Rosary."

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Other oboe works by Patricia Morehead:

Arioso, for Oboe and Harpsichord (1998)

Design One,for Solo Oboe (1984) - also favored for bass oboe

Sounds and Sighs for John, for Solo Oboe d'Amore

Elegy, for English Horn and Piano

Prairie Portraits, for English Horn and Piano

Kathryn Potter http://oboebrilliance.com/

Poetry for Solo Oboe (2020)

Instrumentation: Oboe solo

Duration: 30 minutes
Parts:http://oboebrilliance.com/shop

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Regina Harris Baiocchihttps://reginaharrisbaiocchi.com/

Ancestral Refrain (2021)

Instrumentation: Bass Oboe solo

Duration: 2 minutes
Parts:https://reginaharrisbaiocchi.com/instrumental-music/

Composer's notes: Ancestral Refrain (Resilient Refrain) for solo bass oboe is dedicated to Alex Klein as part of the6Degrees Composers Exquisite Corpse project. Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative composition

with roots in the Parisian Surrealist Movement. This composition is co-written by 5 composers:

Regina Harris Baiocchi, Kyong Mee Choi, Ester Hanviriyapunt, Janice Misurell-Mitchell, and

Patricia Morehead. Each composer wrote a 1-to 2-minute composition that Alex performs in

the order he chooses. As a rule, composers do not know what the others wrote (nor the order

in which Alex performs the music). This produces a surprising, often absurdly beautiful 10-

minute composition titled Resilience.My 2-minute, Ancestral Refrain, is dedicated to Alex Klein, oboist, and victims of the domesticterrorist attack on the US Capitol Wednesday, 6 January 2021.

Kyong Mee Choi https://www.kyongmeechoi.com/

A Deep Light(2021)

Instrumentation: Bass Oboe solo

Duration: 5 minutes
Parts:https://www.kyongmeechoi.com/music.html

Composer's notes: A Deep Light portrays the light that is coming from far away yet having

intensity and focus. e piece is written for Alex Klein.

Ester Hana http://esterhana.com/

Piece for Oboe (2021)

Instrumentation: Bass Oboe solo

Duration: 2 minutes
Parts:http://esterhana.com/?page_id=629

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Patricia Morehead https://www.patriciamorehead.com/

Resilience (2021)

Instrumentation: Bass Oboe solo

Duration: 3 minutes
Parts:https://www.patriciamorehead.com/category/compositions/solo/

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Other oboe works by Patricia Morehead:

Meditation and Exultation (2020)

Arioso, for Oboe and Harpsichord (1998)

Design One, for Solo Oboe (1984) - also favored for bass oboe

Sounds and Sighs for John, for Solo Oboe d'Amore

Elegy, for English Horn and Piano

Prairie Portraits, for English Horn and Piano

Janice Misurell-Mitchell https://jmisurell-mitchell.com/

Resilience (2021)

Instrumentation: Bass Oboe solo

Duration: 3 minutes
Parts:https://jmisurell-mitchell.com/solo-flute/

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