Theo Todman's Music Page

(Text as at 04/10/2023 21:59:02)

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Background Status Report1 Music Exams Music Exams – Websites Music Exams – YouTubeMe Playing OboeTime Spent Playing Oboe2 Music ResourcesProgress to Date


Background
  1. Introduction
    • Music is one of the few interests Julie and I have in common – so is worth cultivating on that account.
    • I don’t consider myself to have any particular musical talent, but enjoy playing the oboe and listening to music – mostly Radio 3, but I have the complete boxed sets of CDs of Bach3, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Mahler, together with numerous other items. I often have these rambling on in the background while I do my philosophy studies or website development.
  2. Oboe
    • I played the oboe for a couple of years at school, starting age 14, and while I got to Grade 5 within a year, I soon lost interest. I also scraped an ‘O’ Level in music using this as a substitute for one of the papers.
    • More recently, I had oboe lessons from April 2008 until September 2010 and again from September 2018 until mid-March 2020, usually every two weeks during term-time. My teacher was Christine Orchover4 and the lessons were at her house in Westcliffe-on-Sea, which required a substantially wasted5 hour’s round trip by car.
    • Unfortunately, these came to a stop in on account of Covid-19. I had the opportunity to continue them via Facebook Messenger in May 2020 but decided against it for two reasons, neither of which came to anything, as it happens:-
      1. I wanted to prepare acceptable recordings for review.
      2. I wanted to try playing by ear, which would take time away from preparing set pieces.
    • I was making good progress on my own – aided by my friend Dave providing me with piano backing tracks for pieces by Schumann and Saint-Saens. Unfortunately, I seem to have a couple of cloth ears for music and attempts at playing by ear are in abeyance after about a day’s effort, spread over some weeks.
    • Also, I got “stuck” on the 3rd Movement of the Saint-Saens – it’s supposed to be played at 140 bpm, and I couldn’t manage it at 60 bpm, especially with the piano accompaniment that Dave had prepared for me, as the synchronisation is really awkward. This led me to lose heart a bit and hence practice less, though I’ve subsequently found that the piece has been presented as a graduation piece at the RSM (according to a BBC R3 presenter). I do seem to be making some progress, however, so it’s been retrieved from the “must be joking” bucket.
    • All things considered – not least the ‘cost of living crisis’ – it doesn’t look as though I’ll be returning to Oboe lessons any time soon.
  3. Piano
    • I started learning the piano in mid-2008, and until September 2010 I had a periodic combined oboe + piano lesson lasting an hour with my oboe-teacher. Since then, this aspect of the project has been mostly in abeyance. I would like to learn to play the piano by ear, but time spent tinkling the ivories always seems like time wasted.
  4. Communal Playing
    • Communal playing, provided it is with at least minimal competence, is pleasurable enough.
    • Since moving to Billericay over 30 years ago, Julie and I occasionally played in a scratch quartet with a couple of friends (piano and recorder) with me on the oboe and Julie on the violin. These friends moved to Shropshire in February 2011, so this occasional pleasure has come to an end.
    • Enigma Ensemble
      1. Since March 2015, Julie and I have been members of a group calling itself The Enigma Ensemble. It met at Little Burstead Village Hall and was overly chatty and of a rather moderate standard, but enjoyable enough and useful preparation for more serious orchestral playing one day (maybe).
      2. I set up its website: Enigma Ensemble.
      3. While it eventually emerged from Covid hibernation, the Ensemble is now formally defunct as our Director (Michael Aarons) has retired on account of ill health.
      4. However, the group is continuing out of St John’s Church, Billericay6. I’ve taken on the organising role for this, though Jill leads the sessions. It’s now much more disciplined and the standard has improved despite the lack of a conductor.
  5. Aural
    • Julie is a member of the Billericay-based Choir For All Seasons (now in reduced circumstances since its Director has retired). I did consider joining, but you can’t do everything7.
    • I signed up for the $4 / month version of "Earmaster - Ear Training & Sight-singing" in September 2020, though have cancelled my subscription as I never even used all the free lessons.
  6. Recent activity can be gauged from
    → My Quarterly Status Report8,
    → The music section of my Summary Task List9, and
    → My Oboe Practice Page10.


Music Exams
  1. Oboe
    1. I scraped a pass at ABRSM Grade V when at school.
    2. I was working towards Trinity Guildhall Grade VI when I first took lessons (in 2008-10)
    3. As of September 2018 I’ve re-started oboe lessons with my former teacher. I’m now working towards Trinity Grade VI-VII, and am in much better shape than last time round because – colds apart – I’m endeavouring to practice an hour a day.
    4. While my intention is take the oboe practical exams under the auspices of Trinity College London, I retain the possibility – if I get to pass practical Grade VIII – of taking ABRSM Music Theory Grade V as this would allow me to take the ABRSM versions of the oboe practicals. To take ABRSM Grade VI and above, it is necessary to pass ABRSM Grade V Music Theory; Music ‘O’ Level is not enough. Trinity Guildhall places no such restriction.
    5. Grade VI Oboe was pencilled in for July 2019, but I’ve decided to prepare for Grade VII first for two reasons:–
      1. Firstly, to make myself more comfortable with Grade VI, but
      2. Secondly, to give myself more time to improve my sight-reading and oral skills.
  2. Piano
    1. I was working towards Trinity Guildhall Grade II when I first took lessons (in 2008-10).
  3. Theory
    1. I scraped Music ‘O’ Level at school.


Music Exams – Websites
  1. Oboe:
    1. Trinity:
      → Trinity: Woodwind Exams
      → Trinity: Woodwind Syllabus
      → Trinity: Music Grades Syllabus Supplement (download)
      → Trinity: Oboe Grade VII Syllabus 2023 - Shop
      → Trinity: About Graded Exams
      → Trinity: Supporting Tests (Aural & Sight-Reading)
      → Trinity: Assessment Criteria (download)
    2. ABRSM
      → ABRSM: Oboe Exams
      → Other links to be followed up when relevant.
  2. Piano: Not yet relevant.


Music Exams – Oboe YouTube Videos
  1. Trinity Grade VI:
    1. Boni – Sonata in G, 1st Movement: Preludio – Largo
      → YouTube: Boni – Sonata in G, Preludio (Live: Anamarija Vuga: 6th class student)
      → YouTube: Boni – Sonata in G, Preludio (Recording: Michal Mesjar)
      → YouTube: Boni – Sonata in G, Preludio (Live: Pascal Jean)
    2. Morricone – Gabriel’s Oboe
      → YouTube: Gabriel's Oboe (Henrik Chaim Goldschmidt)
      → YouTube: Gabriel's Oboe (Maja Łagowska)
    3. Nielsen – Two Fantasy Pieces, Op. 2: Romance
      → YouTube: Carl Nielsen - Two Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano Op. 2 (Recording)
      → YouTube: Carl Nielsen - Two Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano Op. 2 (Live, Nicholas Stovall, Texas)
  2. Trinity Grade VII:
    1. Albinoni – Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2: 1st Movement
      → YouTube: Albinoni – Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2 (Live: Pijus Paškevičius, 10 yrs, Vilnius)
      → YouTube: Albinoni – Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2 (Live: Han de Vries/Alma Musica Amsterdam)
      → YouTube: Albinoni – Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2 (Recording)
      → YouTube: Albinoni – Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2 (Live: Aldo Salvetti, London)
    2. Cimarosa – Oboe Concerto: 1st & 4th Movements
      → YouTube: Cimarosa – Oboe Concerto (Recording)
      → YouTube: Cimarosa – Oboe Concerto (Live: François Leleux, Hong Kong)
      → YouTube: Cimarosa – Oboe Concerto (Live: Teodora Pejasinovic, Belgrade)
      → YouTube: Cimarosa – Oboe Concerto (Live: Francesco Quaranta)
    3. Fiocco – Arioso
      → YouTube: Fiocco – Arioso (Recording: Harry Schulman)
      → YouTube: Fiocco – Arioso (Live: Jozsef Egyed, Hungary)
      → YouTube: Fiocco – Arioso (Live: Aidan's Recital)
      → YouTube: Fiocco – Arioso (Recording: Leon Goossens)
    4. Head – Presto for Oboe & Piano
      → YouTube: Head – Presto for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Michael Head!)
      → YouTube: Head – Presto for Oboe & Piano (Live: Emi Ostrom)
      → YouTube: Head – Presto for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Katsuya Watanabe)
    5. Nielsen – Two Fantasy Pieces, Op. 2: Humoresque
      → YouTube: Carl Nielsen - Two Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano Op. 2 (Recording)
      → YouTube: Carl Nielsen - Two Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano Op. 2 (Live, Nicholas Stovall, Texas)
    6. Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano – 1st Movement11
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Guido Ghetti)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Live: In-Gun Hwang)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Albrecht Mayer) - Ist Movement
      (→ YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Albrecht Mayer) - 2nd Movement)
      (→ YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Albrecht Mayer) - 3rd Movement)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Allan Vogel)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Antony Jekov)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Joseph Robinson)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Live: Bunkichi Arakawa)
      → YouTube: Saint-Saëns – Sonata Op.166 in D Major for Oboe & Piano (Live: Maurice Bourgue)
      → And many more!
    7. Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano, Op. 94 – I or III
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Live: Christoph Hartmann); Romance III starts at 7:50
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Live: Albrecht Mayer); Romance III starts at 12:10
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Recording: François Leleux); Romance III starts at 7:45
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Live: Marin Tinev); Romance III starts at 8:25
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Live: Olivier Stankiewicz); Romances I & II only
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Live: Céline Moinet); Romance I only
      → YouTube: Schumann – Three Romances for Oboe & Piano (Recording: Holliger/Brendel); Romance I only


Oboe Practice Files
  1. The reason I’ve created these files is not to display my prowess, which is non-existent, but so I can hear what I sound like and seek to make necessary improvements.
  2. See this Note12 for an explanation (and personal reminder) of how this table is compiled.
  3. Because I make the recordings using my iPhone, or the voice-recorder on my Lenovo ThinkPad, the sound quality is probably even worse than it sounds in real life.
  4. Tracks for next oboe lesson:-
    • Given the Covid-19 lock-down, my oboe lessons were to be reconvened via Facebook Messenger starting early May 2020. I’d proposed that I pre-record the items, and then play the dodgy passages on an exception basis. There was some confusion as to whether this was acceptable, and I decided not to have lessons until I was in better shape. These are the items prepared so far, however wretchedly!

      Cimarosa: Oboe Concerto in C minor - 1st Movt (Introduzione: Larghetto). Grade: 7 (Recorded 17/05/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps (truncated to make listening less tedious). A reasonable effort, I thought. A few fairly minor bungles. The final cadenza was a disappointment - I have difficulty playing middle C if the reed performs well in the higher registers. I also need to focus more on the dymamics.
      Cimarosa: Oboe Concerto in C minor - 2nd Movt (Allegro) (Recorded 15/05/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. Not required for Grade 7 – too difficult, I think. I’ve not tried to keep the speed uniform as this is a very difficult piece to play at speed (though rather wonderful when played by a professional). I’ve ignored the repeats for now. Sundry bungles, but I’ve only just managed to play it through without collapsing completely.
      Cimarosa: Oboe Concerto in C minor - 3rd Movt (Siciliana) (Recorded 17/05/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps (truncated to make listening less tedious). A pretty piece when played properly, but not required for Grade VII. Not too bad an effort all-in-all, though a bit screechy in places with a few mis-steps.
      Cimarosa: Oboe Concerto in C minor - 4th Movt (Allegro giusto). Grade: 7 (Recorded 15/05/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps – I’ve truncated the long ones. This is quite a difficult piece to play at speed. I’ve ignored the repeat for now. Sundry bungles, but I’ve only just managed to play it through.
      Head: Presto. Grade: 7 (Recorded 08/06/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. A reasonable effort, but with sundry mistakes.
      Saint-Saens: Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Op. 166 - 1st movt (Adantino). Grade: 7 (Recorded 07/06/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. A reasonable effort, but with sundry mistakes. At least I can play it all the way through.
      Saint-Saens: Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Op. 166 - 2nd movt (Ad libitum / Allegretto). Grade: 8 (Recorded 08/06/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. A reasonable effort, expecially as it's a Grade VIII piece, but with sundry mistakes. At least I can play it all the way through.
      Saint-Saens: Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Op. 166 - 3rd movt (Molto allegro). Grade: 8 (Recorded 06/07/2020)
      Comments: This is an impossible piece for me! A world-class oboist would play it at 140bpm. I struggle with 70 bpm. Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. I've tried with the piano, but can't synchronise because the fingering is difficult and I can't keep a regular pace, and the piano doesn't just plonk along in the background helping the soloist keep time. This 'take' is put down as a record of how far I've got to go. At least I played it all the way through, after a manner of speaking, which partly explains the large number of errors.
      Schumann: 3 Romances, 1st movt. Grade: 7 (Recorded 27/04/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. The main difficulty with the piece is the difficult breathing. This effort still has sundry mistakes.
      Schumann: 3 Romances, 1st movt. Grade: 7 (Take 2) (Recorded 27/04/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment now supplied, but the sound quality of the piano is terrible as it's re-recorded playing on my laptop. The main difficulty with the piece is the difficult breathing. This effort still has sundry mistakes and fizzles out at the end when I couldn't re-synch with the piano.
      Schumann: 3 Romances, 2nd movt (Recorded 26/04/2020)
      Comments: Not required for Grade VII, but it’s an enjoyable piece and good to practice breath-control and tone. Piano accompaniment missing as for the other movements. I think it's more difficult than the Grade VII pieces, especially the low notes and general range in the second part. I've now managed to play it all the way through, including the repeat, without getting into a complete mess, but still multiple mistakes.
      Schumann: 3 Romances, 3rd movt. Grade: 7 (Recorded 26/04/2020)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. As for the 1st movement, the main difficulty with the piece is the difficult breathing, together with a squeaky middle-C. This effort has sundry mistakes.

     
  5. Other Tracks:-
    • The list below will be tidied up in due course – if only to save website disk space – as soon as the earlier “takes” cease to be useful reminders. Some I’ll leave on earlier (archived) versions of this Note so progress can be seen.

      Albinoni: Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2, 1st movt. Grade: 7 (Recorded 16/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so there are gaps (usually briefer than in the piece, though enough to recover breath!). This take has some serious breakdowns and general muck-ups.
      Albinoni: Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2, 1st movt. Grade: 7 (Take 2) (Recorded 16/10/2019)
      Comments: Somewhat of an improvement on the above, but still some muck-ups.
      Albinoni: Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2, 1st movt. Grade: 7 (Take 3) (Recorded 24/10/2019)
      Comments: Still improving, but it seems impossible at the moment not to mess up on at least one passage.
      Albinoni: Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2, 2nd movt (Recorded 16/10/2019)
      Comments: Not required for Grade VII, but it’s a famous piece and good to practice breath-control and tone. Piano accompaniment missing as for the other movements.
      Albinoni: Concerto in D minor, Op. 9.2, 3rd movt (Recorded 27/10/2019)
      Comments: Not required for Grade VII, but it’s a jolly piece and good to practice breath-control and finger-twiddling. Piano accompaniment missing as for the other movements. I’ve not practised this very much, so there are a few break-downs.
      Bach: Cantata 140 (Wachet Auf; Duet) - Item 49. Grade: 7 (Recorded 04/01/2021)
      Comments: Not too bad, but several mistakes and one groan! As with all these Grade 7-8 Bach pieces, at the moment I’m just glad to be able to play it all the way through without dying. They have long passages where it’s difficult to take a breath.
      Bach: Cantata 82 (Ich Habe Genug) - Item 28. Grade: 8 (Recorded 03/01/2021)
      Comments: Not too bad an effort, but sundry mistakes. Put down as a marker. As with all these Grade 7-8 Bach pieces, at the moment I’m just glad to be able to play it all the way through without dying. They have long passages where it’s difficult to take a breath.
      Bach: Christmas Oratorio (Aria) - Item 62. Grade: 8 (Recorded 06/01/2021)
      Comments: A bit of a struggle with several mistakes. This is a tricky Grade 8 piece, and occasionally I can’t keep up the speed. Put down as a marker. As with all these Grade 7-8 Bach pieces, at the moment I’m just glad to be able to play it all the way through without dying. They have long passages where it’s difficult to take a breath.
      Bach: Easter Oratorio (Adagio) - Item 66. Grade: 8 (Recorded 15/01/2021)
      Comments: Pretty hideous, especially at the start, though it gets better. I was breaking in a new reed and had terrible difficulty with top C# (but not D). This is a very tricky Grade 8 piece, and not one I’d choose as a ‘study’. Put down as a marker. As with all these Grade 7-8 Bach pieces, at the moment I’m just glad to be able to play it all the way through without dying. They have long passages where it’s difficult to take a breath – and this one has several very long notes. I’m wondering whether I’m playing it too slowly.
      Bach: Matthew Passion (Aria) - Item 70. Grade: 7 (Recorded 09/01/2021)
      Comments: Not too bad an effort, but sundry mistakes. Put down as a marker. As with all these Grade 7-8 Bach pieces, at the moment I’m just glad to be able to play it all the way through without dying. They have long passages where it’s difficult to take a breath.
      Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Eroica, 2nd movt - Marcia Funebre (bars 8-56). Grade: 6 (Recorded 29/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. "For tone and phrasing". A very famous piece, so important to get it right. A few stumbles, and the tone is less than perfect!
      Blatt: Study No. 52. Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: This is a study, so no piano accompaniment. Not a bad attempt.
      Boni: Sonata in G, 1st movt: Preludio - Largo. Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. This piece isn’t too bad as far as technique is concerned, but it’s difficult for tone and breath-control.
      Boni: Sonata in G, 2nd movt: Allegro (Recorded 18/01/2021)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. Played for interest; probably Grade 8 standard of difficulty. Full of mistakes, but laid down as a marker. Easy to get your fingers tied in knots. Repeat omitted.
      Boni: Sonata in G, 3rd movt: Alla Siciliana (Recorded 18/01/2021)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. Played for interest; probably Grade 6 standard of difficulty. OK, but some mistakes.
      Boni: Sonata in G, 4th movt: Allegro (Recorded 19/01/2021)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. Played for interest; probably Grade 8 standard of difficulty. Full of mistakes, but laid down as a marker. Easy to get your fingers tied in knots. Repeat omitted.
      Ferling: Study No. 62. Grade: 7 (Recorded 16/10/2019)
      Comments: This is a study, so no piano accompaniment. Not a bad attempt.
      Fiocco: Arioso. Grade: 7 (Recorded 26/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. This piece isn’t too bad as far as technique is concerned, but it’s difficult for tone and breath-control (as is given away by the gasp at the end!). Some wobbles as well.
      Harris: Study No. 74. Grade: 8 (Recorded 28/01/2021)
      Comments: This is an interesting piece. Far too difficult for me to play at the proper speed with the challenging rhythm and some awkward fingering and articulation in the higher registers. Loads of errors and a few break-downs. But you get the drift. I’ll come back to it when my technique has (hopefully) improved.
      Hinke: Study No. 14 (Allegro marciale). Grade: 7 (Recorded 28/01/2021)
      Comments: This piece appears surprisingly easy for Grade 7, so it’s clearly a trap. It’s fun to play through once in a while, but very tedious to practice regularly. I’ve made the occasional slip in this effort, which is basically OK, but I’ve not paid enough attention to the tonguing or dynamics. It’s not all staccato. I’ve just noticed that it can only be presented along with Hinke No. 18, which is much more of a challenge.
      Hinke: Study No. 18 (Andante con moto). Grade: 7 (Recorded 28/01/2021)
      Comments: This piece is slightly too difficult for me at the moment, given it’s in four flats, but I’ve laid down an effort to park it while my general technique (hopefully) improves. Not too bad an effort, though a few mistakes.
      Morricone: Gabriel's Oboe. Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing. The notes are very easy - it's all about tone and breath-control. I've not practiced it much.
      Mower: Jauntless Jig. Grade: 7 (Recorded 16/10/2019)
      Comments: This is a study, so no piano accompaniment. It’s a difficult piece, with awkward fingering and difficult breathing. This effort has multiple mistakes, and I have occasionally done better.
      Mozart: Symphony No. 4, 1st movt (extract). Grade: 7 (Recorded 15/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. "For articulation". Easy key (C major), and some parts are easy. But some very difficult fingering, and I just can’t seem to play the whole extract without making a mistake or two. Several I this Take.
      Mozart: Symphony No. 4, 1st movt (extract). Grade: 7 (Take 2) (Recorded 24/10/2019)
      Comments: This is worse than Take 1 – and occasions several re-starts. Included to show the difficulties!
      Nielsen: Two Fantasy Pieces: Humoresque. Grade: 7 (Recorded 27/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so sundry gaps. Rather a scrappy effort with sundry breakdowns and errors. Not a piece I’m intending to present at the exam. I’ve practised it a fair bit, though not recently, which explains a long fumble over a double-sharp! Probably too difficult – lots of awkward fingering. And too fast.
      Nielsen: Two Fantasy Pieces: Romance. Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: Piano accompaniment missing, so there are gaps.
      Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite, V Tocata (extract). Grade: 7 (Recorded 15/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. "For finger technique". Awkward key (E major, 4 sharps). As expected, difficult fingering . Rather a miserable effort.
      Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite, V Tocata (extract). Grade: 7 (Take 2) (Recorded 24/10/2019)
      Comments: Much improved, but still not right!
      Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, 2nd movt (extract). Grade: 7 (Recorded 15/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. A famous and beautiful melody if played well. "For tone and phrasing". Awkward key (f minor, 5 flats). Difficult breathing, which adversely affects the tone and dynamics. Not there as yet – can’t even get the notes right!
      Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, 2nd movt (extract). Grade: 7 (Take 2) (Recorded 24/10/2019)
      Comments: Improved as for as the notes are concerned, but a bit flat in the dynamics.
      Verdi: Aida, Act 1 Scene 1, Romanze des Radames (extract). Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. "For finger technique". Awkward!
      Weber: Der Freischutz, 2. Aufzug Ariette des Annchen (bars 1-26). Grade: 6 (Recorded 28/10/2019)
      Comments: This is an orchestral extract, with no piano part required. "For articulation".


Resources
  1. Sheet Music and Books on Music are summarised in the following lists:-
  2. A useful site for listening to practice pieces is, of course, Spotify, though – in practice, as noted above – YouTube is a better bet for free stuff.
  3. Time spent since I (re-)started playing these instruments is recorded in my database (as pseudo-Books/Papers) at the following links:-


Detailed Progress & Works Played
  1. Oboe:
    1. My oboe expertise has improved greatly with practice, and I have much less trouble with breath-control, and with playing for longer than 30 minutes at a stretch. I can – or could, before Covid – fairly comfortably play for the full hour of my oboe lesson.
    2. In 20Q3 I passed the 1,000 hours mark for oboe-playing (since I started recording my time in June 2005).
    3. Strangely, I’d never thought the oboe needed to be tuned against the piano, nor was I quite as clear how to vary the pitch so much by controlling the reed. So, I guess that’s progress.
    4. My focus continues to be on the mechanics of breathing, reed-control and tone, but is now moving on into other areas of musicality.
    5. Lessons:
      • 38 from April 2008 to September 2010.
      • 36 from September 2018 – March 2020
      • Sadly now on hold as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I decided against online lessons.
    6. Practice & Exam pieces for the oboe13: For the time spent practising these pieces since October 201814, follow this link15 (which needs collating against the list below, and missing items added thereto):-
    7. Sight-reading:-
    8. Also some elementary scales (C major; D major and minor; F major; and G major and minor; E-flat major). Now using:-
      1. "Trinity Guildhall - Trinity Guildhall Scales & Arpeggios for Oboe (Grades 1–8)", and
      2. "ABRSM - Scales and Arpeggios for Oboe, Grades 1-8 (ABRSM Scales & Arpeggios)".
    9. Technique:-
      1. Some re-engineering of the fingering for top C# and D – and now D#, E & F – I’m beginning to get used to these, which is an advance over my school days.
      2. Read and tried to apply oboe practice techniques recommended by Martin Schuring.
      3. Read "Caplan (Stephen) - Oboe: The Breathing Book".
      4. Read "Goossens (Leon) & Roxburgh (Edwin) - Oboe (Yehudi Menuhin Music Guide)".
    10. Violin Books, played on the oboe:-
      1. "Bach (J.S.), Szeryng (Henryk) - Sonatas and Partitas: For Solo Violin",
      2. "Jones (Edward Huws) - Jigs, Reels & Hornpipes: Traditional Fiddle Tunes from England, Ireland & Scotland",
      3. "Jones (Edward Huws) - The Celtic Fiddler",
      4. "Jones (Edward Huws) - The Klezmer Fiddler: Jewish Music of Celebration".
    11. Enigma Ensemble:-
      • Classical
        1. Alfven: Swedish Rhapsody
        2. Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze
        3. Binge: Elizabethan Serenade
        4. Bizet: Carmen Fantasy
        5. Boccherini: Minuet & Trio
        6. Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
        7. East (arr): Three Traditional Tunes
        8. Elgar: Chanson de Matin
        9. Gershwin: Summertime
        10. Gounod: Funeral March of a Marionette
        11. Grieg: A Grieg Suite
        12. Grieg: Peer Gynt
        13. Handel: Forrest Music; Water Music; Largo
        14. Haydn / Brahms: St. Anthony Chorale
        15. Morgan / Traditional: Hullabaloobelay!
        16. Mozart: Papageno's Song (Magic Flute)
        17. Monteverdi: Three Pieces from the Operas
        18. Music of the Court of Henry VIII
        19. Offenbach: Barcarolle from “The Tales of Hoffmann”; Gallop
        20. Pachelbel: Canon
        21. Purcell: Popular Pieces
        22. Purcell / Clarke: Trumpet Tunes
        23. Ravell: Pavane pour une enfante defunte
        24. Schubert: Marche Militaire, Rosamunde (Ballet)
        25. Sousa: Marches, The Liberty Bell
        26. Strauss: The Blue Danube, Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
        27. Susato: Danserye
        28. Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Swans, Waltz of the Flowers
        29. Verdi: Rigoletto – La Donna E Mobile
        30. Vivaldi: Two themes from The Seasons (Autumn, Winter)
        31. Warlock: Capriol Suite - Pavanne
      • Semi-Classical
        1. Blake / Hare: Snowman – Walking in the Air
        2. Cameron: Cumbria
        3. Joplin: Rags
        4. Lloyd Webber: Requiem – Pie Jesu
        5. Sartorini – Time To Say Goodbye
        6. Schonberg: Les Miserables – I Dreamed a Dream
        7. Vangelis: Chariots of Fire
      • Popular
        1. Boyle: Music for a Western
        2. Frazer: Sloop John B
        3. Grainer: Old Ned (Steptoe & Son)
        4. Holder / Lea: Merry Christmas Everybody
        5. Lennon / McCartney: Eleanor Rigby, Mull of Kintyre, When I’m 64, Yesterday
        6. Sutherland: Sailing
        7. Traditional: Christmas Bonanza, Jingle Bell Rock
        8. Trombey: Eye Level
        9. Williams: Star Wars
  2. Piano:
    1. I started studying Piano in July 2008, but have not really persisted.
    2. Lessons: 31 from July 2008 to September 2010.
    3. I reached the end of Book 1 of "Barratt (Carol) - The Classic Piano Course (Omnibus Edition: Books 1, 2 & 3)" in December 2008. Final piece: Fur Elise.
    4. From January – August 2009 I was assigned a Grade 2/3 book – "Agay (Denes) - Classics to Moderns (Volume 2)" – items as below.
      • Minuet from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach,
      • Corelli – Gavotte,
      • Burgmuller – Arabesque,
      • Beethoven – Sonatina in G,
      • Tchaikovsky – Italian Song,
      • Beethoven – Ecossaise,
      • Couperin – Carnival,
      • Schumann – Melody,
      • Schumann – The Wild Horseman,
      • Kabalevsky - Waltz.
    5. From September 2009 – September 2010 I was assigned a Grade 3/4 book – "Agay (Denes) - Classics to Moderns (Volume 3)" – items as below.
      • Clowns [Kabalevsky, Dmitri]
      • Ecossaise [Weber, Carl Maria Von]
      • First Loss [Schumann, Robert]
      • Little Prelude in C [Bach, Johann Sebastian]
      • Puppet's Complaint [Franck, Cesar]
      • Rondo [Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus]
      • The Mechanical Doll (Six Children's Pieces) [Shostakovich, Dmitri]
      • Waltz [Schubert, Franz]
    6. "ABRSM - Selected Piano Exam Pieces 2009-2010: Grade 2":
      • Biehl: Allegro Grazioso from Sonatina in C, Op. 57 No. 1.
    7. "ABRSM - Scales, Arpeggios & Broken Chords: Piano Grade 2".
    8. "Rhodes (James) - How to Play the Piano".
    9. "Cannel (Ward) & Marx (Fred) - How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home".
  3. Aural:
    1. "ABRSM - Aural Training In Practice: Book 1 - Grades 1-3",
    2. "ABRSM - Aural Training in Practice, Book 3, Grades 6-8 + 3 CDs",
    3. "ABRSM - Specimen Aural Tests: Grades 1-5",
    4. "ABRSM - Specimen Aural Tests: Grade 6 with CD",
    5. "Boytim (Joan Frey) - The First Book Of Baritone/Bass Solos",
    6. "Deutsch (Diana) - Absolute Pitch",
    7. "Trinity Guildhall - Trinity College London Aural Tests Book 1 (Initial to Grade 5) 2017",
    8. "Trinity Guildhall - Trinity College London Aural Tests Book 2 (Grades 6 to 8) 2017".
  4. Music Theory:
    1. Theory Theory:
      1. "Taylor (Eric) - The AB Guide to Music Theory - Part 1",
      2. "Taylor (Eric) - The AB Guide to Music Theory - Part 2".
    2. Theory Practice:
      1. "Taylor (Eric) - Music Theory in Practice: Grade 1",
      2. "Taylor (Eric) - Music Theory in Practice: Grade 2",
      3. "Taylor (Eric) - Music Theory in Practice: Grade 3",
      4. "Taylor (Eric) - Music Theory in Practice: Grade 4",
      5. "Taylor (Eric) - Music Theory in Practice: Grade 5".
    3. Theory Answers:
      1. "ABRSM - Music Theory in Practice: Model Answers Grade 1",
      2. "ABRSM - Music Theory in Practice: Model Answers Grade 2",
      3. "ABRSM - Music Theory in Practice: Model Answers Grade 3",
      4. "ABRSM - Music Theory in Practice: Model Answers Grade 4",
      5. "ABRSM - Music Theory in Practice: Model Answers Grade 5".


In-Page Footnotes:

Footnote 3: Footnote 4: Footnote 5: Footnote 6: Footnote 7: Footnote 11: Footnote 13: Footnote 14:

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