Ralph Vaughan Williams - Concerto for Oboe and Strings, 1944

The Concerto for Oboe and Strings was written by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1943–44 for the
oboist Léon Goossens, to whom the score is dedicated.

The Oboe Concerto is in A minor and is in 3 parts:

1. Rondo Pastorale (Allegro moderato)

2. Minuet and Musette (Allegro moderato)

3. Finale (Scherzo) (Presto – Doppio più lento – Lento – Presto)

Information about the composer’s life:

Ralph Vaughan Williams is a British composer of the past century. He lived in the period between 12
October 1872 – 26 August 1958. Vaughan Williams has a wide range of compositions such as operas,
ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine
symphonies, written over sixty years. Throughout his life his intentions were to compose music and
make it accessible to everybody. He wrote many works for amateur and student performance. Another
big influence in his repertoire is the English folk song.

In terms of his personal life- the First World War affected him very much. At that time, he was serving
in the Army and his emotional state was probably shaken. Vaughan Williams had 2 wives during his
life. He married his second wife at a relatively old age in the year of 1953.

Interesting facts about the oboe concerto:

The Oboe Concerto was composed in 1944, very close to the Second World War. A that time Vaughan
Williams was 72 years old and at the same time he was composing other pieces such as the opera ‘’The
Pilgrim’s Progress’’. This concerto was written for the oboist Léon Goossens, who also has an impact as he
was asked to contribute with some ideas.

Here is a small cite of a letter written from Vaughan Williams to Leon Goossens:

Dear Goossens:

‘’I hear from B.B.C that they have asked you to play my oboe concerto at the Proms. I need hardly say I am
pleased at the prospect if you are also pleased – but you had better see if before you make up your mind! I
hope to send you the oboe part and a pianoforte reduction of the score in about a fortnight. Of course, I shall
welcome suggestions from you as to making the part more ‘’oboistic’’. ‘’

Further thoughts about the structure:

1. Rondo Pastorale (Allegro moderato)

The Rondo Pastorale is in A minor beginning with Dorian mode. Here perhaps, the composer’s thought is to
use ‘’the lush sound of the instrument to evoke the spirit of the countryside’’.

2. Minuet and Musette (Allegro moderato)

This movement is the shortest and is said to have ‘’the tang of the open air rather the scent of a
ballroom.’’

3. Finale (Scherzo) (Presto – Doppio più lento – Lento – Presto)

The Final part has something in common with the Scherzo of his fifth symphony in D. In fact, this movement
is the most energetic of the piece and this is not typical for an instrumental concerto. Usually, the concertos
always start with an energetic first part and symphonies finish with their fastest movement.

The Oboe Concerto is written in an unusual way because there is no separate slow movement, but it is well
balanced, and the flow of the piece is not interrupted.