Arnold Bax (1883-1953) - Oboe Quintet in G minor (1922)
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| Arnold Bax |
II. Lento espressivo [5:11]
III. Allegro giocoso - Più lento - Vivace [12:29]
The Nash Ensemble
«Bax composed the Quintet for Oboe and Strings in the closing months of 1922, on the heels of his First Symphony. At the time, a piece for such forces was unusual; surely, Bax was inspired to write the Oboe Quintet by the playing of the famous oboist, Louis Goossens, to whom the composer dedicated the piece. This was quite an honor for the young Goossens. (Bax would later compose the Nonet with Goossens in mind.)
Progress on the Oboe Quintet moved quickly; the piece was composed between November 1 and December 25, 1922. The quintet is in three movements in the fast-slow-fast pattern typical of a concerto. This aspect, plus the occasional orchestral texture of the string writing, may have prompted Sir John Barbirolli to program the Oboe Quintet at one time as a Concerto for Oboe and Strings. Although the melodies in the quintet are original, they sound like Irish folk tunes. This was surely a deliberate, if not unconscious, act on the part of the composer, whose emotional attachment to Ireland was the central emotional component of his life. Also, the flavor of the Irish Songs Bax had composed earlier in 1922 was still influencing his melodic thinking. Texturally transparent, the piece is lyrical throughout. [...]»
-John Palmer
