Easy Listening Oboe Concertos – Programme 115

Loading player...
Welcome to “about Music“ with Brian.

In our exploration of the woodwind instruments of the orchestra, we have listened to members of the flute family, which are all played by blowing air across or into an opening, and members of the single reed family, which have a single reed that vibrates against a mouthpiece. These were the clarinet and the saxophone.

We come now to the double reed instruments, oboe, cor anglaise, and bassoon. Double reed instruments feature reeds with two pieces of cane that vibrate against each other when a musician blows against them.
Today we begin with the oboe, which has a bright penetrating sound, and is the instrument to which the rest of the orchestra must tune their instruments.

The oboe is a very old instrument, whose roots go back to ancient reed instruments like those of Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as the Greek aulos and Roman tibia.

For our listening pleasure I have four concertos today.
Please remember to listen for the standard concerto features with each concerto:

A lively opening movement, usually lead by the orchestra, a slow and lyrical second movement, and a third movement called a Rondo which features a recurring theme. Any or all of the movements may have solo passages, called cadenzas where the soloist may show their ability.
5 Oct 2025 English South Africa Music · Music History

Other recent episodes

Programme 123: about Music- The Art of Listening: Musical Fingerprints Part 2

In the next programme in the series “about Music”, we are looking at Musical Fingerprints Part 2, following on from Part 1 of last week. What are these? These are the unique characteristics of individual composers, periods of music, musical styles and specific compositional types, that an observant listener will…
2 Nov 59 min

Programme 121 - The Tuba Moves from the Back Row to Centre Stage

Usually heard providing a powerful foundation from the back of the orchestra, the tuba rarely gets the chance to stand in the spotlight. In this programme, that changes. Discover an instrument capable of far more than weight and depth. The tuba can sing with warmth, move with astonishing agility, and…
28 Sep 1 hour

Programme 120 The Trombone — Concertos Through the Centuries

More Than Meets the Ear Bold, brilliant and unmistakable — but how well do we really know the trombone? Join Brian as we follow this remarkable instrument across more than two centuries, from the elegant alto trombone of Albrechtsberger to the dazzling virtuosity of the modern instrument. Along the way,…
21 Sep 57 min