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Gwyneth Walker
The Magic Oboefor Oboe and Orchestra
EnchantmentTricksEvening Magic
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Composed for the Susquehanna Symphony OrchestraSheldon Bair, Music Director
and especially for Oboist, Judith Famous
Premiere: May 10, 2003Havre de Grace, Maryland
Duration: 16 minutes
Instrumentation: Oboe, Flute, Bassoon, Trumpet, Percussion, Strings
Enchantment the orchestra creates gentle, flowing patterns as if casting a spell of wonder andmagic, The oboe enters with a theme of scalar descents, embellished with grace notes. Theorchestra and oboe interweave their patterns.
Tricks the conductor becomes a Magician, proudly wearing a Magician's hat. The oboeattempts to conjure up a rabbit from the conductor's hat. Aha! The rabbit appears, and joins inconducting the orchestra!
Now, the oboe becomes the Magician's Assistant, volunteering to be sawed in half (!). The oboetakes a seat within the orchestra (i.e., within the sawing box). A "sawing theme" is played in thelower strings. Vigorous bowing ensues. A cry of terror is heard from the oboe. The sawingcontinues...but, miraculously, the oboe survives and emerges intact.
The Magician now produces a large egg, proudly displayed. However, this is a sleight-of-handtrick. The egg vanishes, reappears in various places within the orchestra, and makes a surprisefinal appearance.
Evening Magic sounds at dusk, a serenade, the sunset, stars, shooting stars. The quiet ofevening unfolds. Ultimately, the magical brilliance of the night lends its energy to the music.
Suggested props for "Tricks"
Small table near Conductor, for propsMagician's Hat (for the Conductor)
Large stuffed rabbit mounted on a pole to be raised up for audience viewingSmall hand sawCloth or scarf on table6 large plastic eggs (such as the kind which came with "L'Eggs" stockings)
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Oboe Solo2
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Oboe Solo 3
2. Tricks a. The Rabbit in the Hat
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(Oboist stands up triumphantlyhaving survived the sawing.)
Oboe Solo4
b. Sawing in Half(The Oboist now becomes the Magicians assistantstepping forward to be sawed in half.)
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Music in celebration of finding the egg
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Oboe Solo 5
c. The Vanishing Egg
Oboist finds and holds up
the 'missing' egg, which wperhaps hidden on themusic stand
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Oboe Solo8
