Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra op.110

西澤健一：オーボエと弦楽合奏のための協奏曲(2020)

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*Score
https://www.patreon.com/nishizawakenichi/shop/score-concerto-for-oboe-and-string-op-291405

0:24 I. Moderato
8:01 II. Andante moderato
12:57 III. Allegro

Scoring: Oboe, Strings
Dedicated to: Christoph Hartmann
Performance: Oct. 2022 at Tokyo, Meguro Persimmon Hall – Main Hall / Christoph Hartmann (Ob), Manji Project Orchestra, Kenichi Nishizawa (Cond)

I have known Christoph Hartmann since my “Oboe Sonata” composed in 2015. We met again in February 2018 at the 50th anniversary concert of Japan Double-Reed Inc., where he asked me if I was interested in writing a concerto. He told me it should be for a string ensemble and written in such a way that it could be played by a string quartet too using the same score. This very practical idea, given by him from a performer’s point of view, was to my liking. I promised him that I would eventually do it.

In February 2020, just as I was about to finish my opera work and finally begin composing music again, my father collapsed and the world was struck with Covid-19. In April of the same year, when the state of emergency was declared, I rode an empty train to deliver supplies to my father, but I was unable to visit him. I progressively wrote the scores while soothing my mother over the phone, who was distraught over the uncertain social and personal conditions.

Overall, the work is dominated by gentle musicality. The moderato first movement, the andante second movement. Continuing with the lively allegro third movement which slows down at the end. Followed by recalling the material of the first movement, now portrayed in a major key which all comes to a peaceful end. I hesitated to write this since it is a bit too overwhelming. Because, on a sad note, my father died on May 16th and that was the same day I finished the last note of this piece.

We attempted to stage a performance in 2020, but it was difficult to perform overseas at the time because of the strict immigration restrictions. I am honestly happy that we are finally able to perform it for the first time.