Efrain Oscher

Konzert für Oboe und Streicher

This concert is the result of several years of musical collaboration and friendship between the Venezuelan oboist Sergio Sanchez and Efrain Oscher. It is a tribute to Venezuela and its music, inspired by his memories of his childhood and the many years that Efrain Oscher has dedicated to the worldwide performance of Venezuelan music.

The first movement Allegro Caraqueño is based on the Venezuelan merengue, which differs from the Dominican merengue in its 5/8 time signature. This movement is reminiscent of Caracas in its heyday - modern, chaotic, sometimes violent, but full of culture and life. The music is imbued with a certain melancholy, which is perfectly captured by the sound of the oboe.

The second movement is based on the tonada, a musical style that has its origins in work songs, which are mainly sung during milking. These songs capture the loneliness of the farmers in the vastness of Venezuela, the darkness of the plains before dawn, the smell of the grass glistening with dew and the sounds of birds and crickets. This movement is taken over by the English horn.

In eastern Venezuela, you can still witness the dance of the Gaita de Tambora, an impressive performance of two groups of dancers chasing each other and waving flags to the sound of drums and singing. It is the theme of the third movement. It is a fantasy that combines rhythmic and melodic elements of the Gaita de Tambora to create a texture on the strings that is reminiscent of the drums. At the same time, the oboe displays virtuosity and expressiveness in passages that are also imbued with jazz influences. The occasional "chases" between oboe and strings give this movement a festive, joyful character.