Airs, Blues & Dances

" I am thrilled to have returned to Champs Hill to record my third recital disc. Selecting the repertoire to include has been a fascinating journey for me. I have always held the firm belief that there is a varied and rich repertoire for oboe that is so often underestimated. In seeking new music to perform and record in recent years I have become evermore certain that this belief is justified. I set out to find contemporary oboe music that is not only of the highest quality but would be approachable to audiences who may not have heard the oboe in a solo context before. The resulting collection features some of my favourite oboe repertoire of the past thirty years. It is the contrast between compositions that fascinate me most about the music we recorded. For example, the exploration of Blues music by David Matthews feels far away from the colours and evocative music of Anthony Powers or Helen Grime. The Four Country Dances and Music for a Lovelorn Lenanshee both share a focus on folk music yet contrast one another so clearly in style. The two featured chamber works balance the solemn wind quartet by John Tavener with the energy and drive of the wind trio by Judith Weir." James Turnbull