Oboist
So I play oboe, as I’m sure is obvious. I study with Dick Dorsey, former principal of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (for decades).
Tech Talk:
I play one of these puppies, and I love the crap out of it. This year I have been cast out of the nest of Jim Mason’s students and set free to fly on my own two feet as far as reeds go (pardon my mixed metaphors)–in other words, I play on all my own reeds now! Woo! I make Philadelphia-school reeds. I use an original Mack tip, and whatever cane I can get my hands on. My favourite knives are my Landwell, and the Bhosys that Dick gave me.
The Artist as a Performer:
I’m not much of a performer, as far as orchestral music and traditional solo repertoire go. I just don’t have the patience or discipline (or time) to practice it–and I don’t like doing things that I know people have done far better than I ever could many times before me. But I do like to play! I am an improviser, and I love to play new music.
This piece was Matty Rivers-Moore’s final Electroacoustic project for a class we were in together: he didn’t have anything prepared that afternoon, so I suggested he find an improviser, play one of his electronic compositions with it, and mess with the instrumental sounds live. He was like, “Do you want to do it?” and I said, “Heck yes!” because Matty’s music is incredible. Thus:
Piece for Electronics and Improvised Oboe
I asked three of my composer friends who have slightly less-prolific output to write me miniatures. This covers a lot of ground: 1) They have someone to write for for whom they do not need to arrange rehearsals, and who knows about the dress and the concert and the procedures. 2) I get three new works written for me. 3) I get to hear music written by three people whose music I like.
Lots of birds died that day.
Anyway, as it happened, they all decided to call their pieces after vegetables. Narim Kim wrote me a piece called “doraji” which is a Korean bellflower root, Amanda Lowry wrote me “Artichokes” which is a classy piece, and Jennifer Lynn del Duca wrote this piece, “Radicchio.” I hope you like it, and I hope you do not judge my playing too harshly.
More coming…
