Commissioned by the Park Lane Group

Tape part available for hire

  • oboe/tape
  • 5 min

Programme Note

Niobe, written in July and November 1987, was commissioned by the Park Lane Group for Ian Hardwick. The Tape was made in the Chiens Interdits Studios in New York; recording engineer, Jonathan Mann.

In Greek mythology, Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus and wife of Amphion, King of Thebes. She unwisely boasted to Leto about her many sons and daughters. Leto, who only had two children, Apollo and Artemis, was angered.

As punishment Apollo slew all of Niobe’s sons and Artemis all her daughters.

Out of pity for Niobe’s inconsolable grief, the Gods changed her into a rock, in which form she continued to weep.

In this short work for solo oboe and Tape, the solo oboe takes the part of Niobe bitterly lamenting her murdered children. The tape with the distant high voices and the slow tolling bells, and later gong, is intended to provide an evocative and descriptive accompaniment.

Media

Niobe

Scores

Score sample

Discography

A Dramatic Journey

A Dramatic Journey
  • Label
    Albany
  • Catalogue Number
    TROY1835
  • Soloist
    Rebecca Johnson (flute), Elizabeth Sullivan (oboe), Cara Chowning (piano), Jessica Lindsey (clarinet)
  • Released
    15th September 2020

Chamber works for oboe

Chamber works for oboe
  • Label
    Harmonia Mundi
  • Catalogue Number
    HMU907568
  • Soloist
    Nicholas Daniel, The Chilingirian Quartet, Joy Farrall, Emer McDonough, James Turnbull, Huw Watkins
  • Released
    1st February 2013

Insomniac

Insomniac
  • Label
    NNLrecords
  • Catalogue Number
    NNL1
  • Ensemble
    new noise
  • Released
    2003

Sad Steps - Music of Tragedy and Grief

Sad Steps - Music of Tragedy and Grief
  • Label
    Albany
  • Catalogue Number
    TROY 1557
  • Soloist
    Mark Hill, oboe; Katherine Murdock, viola; Audrey Andrist, piano; Xak Bjerken, piano