Autumn Soliloquy - OB/PN

Autumn Soliloquy
for oboe and piano
by James Barnes (b. 1949) - American composer

A delightful tone poem by James Barnes, composed as an oboe solo with wind orchestra accompaniment and dedicated to Susan Hicks Brashier. It is quite different from most of Barnes' music, which is powerful and energetic. The piece beings with a melancholy oboe solo and a one-line melody on a horn in the background. The clarinet and bassoon then have a turn with the melody. An oboe cadenza catches one's notice as the swirling chill of Autumn. the colors of sounds indicate the changing colors of leaves. There is a last burst of brilliance and excitement before the oboe once again sings in a plaintive cadenza. Recalling the initial theme before retreating, the accompaniment introduce a pyramid of sound to bring the piece to a quiet ending. 

This title is also available in a version oboe and band HERE.