Joseph Horowitz's Oboe Concerto

[John H White]

Last night our local band, the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra under guest conductor David Grubb, included the Oboe Concerto written in 1993 by Joseph Horowitz as a test piece in the final of the Isle of Wight International Oboe Contest.
    The soloist, Max Spiers, obviously put a lot of hard work into the performance but that wasn't enough to convince me that this work deserved a place in the repertoire. Unlike many late 20th Century works, there was nothing harsh about it that grated on my ears. I'm sure it was well written by someone who obviously knows his stuff. However, I for one was unable to discern any definite tunes in it. Maybe I'm being old fashioned in expecting tunes in my music. What do other forum members think?

[John H White]

My opinion of the work has now been confirmed by my cello teacher, who was playing in the orchestra. neither she nor her fellow cellist colleague playing alongside her were able to find any discernible tunes in it.