By oboist2
13-Mar-2012

Well constructed album  

I noted on the heading in ClassicsOnline, the last work mentioned was Oboe Concerto (actually Jacob wrote two and this was neither). In actual fact it was the oboe Quartet. This was a work unknown to me and I think for this work alone, the album is worth owning. There are a few rival recordings of the 7 Bagatelles out there - Gordon Hunt immediately springs to mind here.

The oboist was a good player with great technique, lively musicianship, and even though the sound was woodier than the classic English sound of earlier generations, he was the possessor of a flexible sound and a good true staccato - this is often lacking these days and the articulation was both crisp and pleasingly accurate.

I did not know the 6 Shakespearian sketches and they were a pleasing addition to the album. Gordon Jacob's music has kind of fallen out of favour in recent years and that is a great pity as there is much to recommend it. I hope one day that someone will record the two oboe concertos and put them on the same disc.
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