David Cowdy (Oboe) & David Jones (Piano)

The two Davids last visited on Saturday 27th January 2018. The press report had us “enthralled by obscure parts of the oboe repertoire, their engaging performances interspersed with informative commentaries”.

Here is a PDF of the Poster for this Concert (click to VIEW or right click to SAVE). Please feel free to print and display the poster to help publicise this concert.

Programme (announced 22nd October)

Jacques Ibert: Entr’acte
Darrol Barry: Concertino for Oboe and Piano
York Bowen: Andantino from Oboe Sonata op.85
J S Bach (attrib.): Siciliana
Olivier Messiaen: Vocalise-Étude
William Grant-Still: Incantation and Dance

I N T E R VA L

Michael Head: Elegiac Dance and Presto
David Cowdy: Avian Sketches
Edward Elgar: Andante and Allegro
Tõnu Kõrvits: Song / Laul
Ennio Morricone: Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso
Madeleine Dring: Danza Gaya and Italian Dance

Brief Report “on the night”

A really enjoyable night with both the audience and the performers enjoying themselves. Many of the pieces had been adapted for Oboe (e.g. the first piece from Flute & Harp, the second from Soprano Cornet) but they fitted very well. Bowen’s Andantino was very expressive and compete in itself (originally being the central of 3 movements). The Bach and Messiaen pieces were played as a pair setting each other off very well. The first half ended with a jazzy dance with a western feel.

The second half included an enchanting piece by David Cowdy himself. Next came a piece by the young Elgar originally just called “Christmas Music”, being for performance by his family at home. Another delightful pairing was then followed by a spirited dance.  As an encore they played a very jazzy foot-tapping piece by Elise (or maybe Alyssa?) Morris.

Press Report

David Cowdy (oboe) and David Jones (piano) have played twice before for the Middlewich and District Concerts Society. We enjoyed them so much that we asked them back again, with a similar result!

The concert opened with Jacques Ibert’s Entr’acte, characterised by flowing lines and a real test of breath control, the first of many. David Cowdy worked with Darrol Barry, a well-known composer and arranger of brass band music. Darrol produced a delightful concertino for oboe and piano. This was probably its first public performance. It certainly showed its brass band origins. York Bowen’s Andantino was very expressive and provided quite a contrast. Bach’s Siciliana and Messiaen’s Vocalise-Etude were played as a pair, working well together.  Incantation and Dance by William Grant Still had an ethereal feel followed by a stomping dance.

The second half began with a beautiful performance of Elegiac Dance and Presto by Michael Head. David Cowdy composed Avian Sketches, four effective portraits of birds seen in his garden. The young Elgar wrote a piece originally just called “Christmas Music”, for performance by his family at home and already showing some of his characteristic features. Laul, by Tõnu Kõrvits, was quite reflective in tone. A theme from Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone) and two dances by Madeleine Dring were paired, to pleasing effect. As an encore they played Yellow, a very jazzy foot-tapping piece by Alyssa Morris.

For more information about David Cowdy visit his own website (in a new window), by clicking HERE