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Doubles for oboe, clarinet and wind orchestra

Commissioned by the RNCM, Doubles is a one movement concerto lasting c.13 minutes and is structured around elements of the classical concerto and the baroque concerto grosso, both of which in their way ‘double’ material up for both soloists(s) and ensemble. Essentially, it is an investigation of resolution strategies necessary to reconcile the questions that inevitably arise when two seemingly disparate components are required to inhabit the same acoustic environment. Doubles’ consequent hybrid nature evolved initially as a result of the issues of balance between oboe, clarinet and a large-scale concert band; a workable solution was to alternate full-on ritornelli passages (and despite the apparent limitations, this is a very loud piece at times) with relatively lightly accompanied solo ones. The concertante oboe and clarinet are mostly treated as a single ‘hyper’ instrument (frequently ‘doubling’ at the unison, single and double octave) that does not bifurcate until past the halfway mark (for two brief solos). Almost every gesture, whether reflective or rhythmically-driven appears at least twice (is ‘doubled’) whilst melodic ideas undergo continuous metamorphosis or development so that a sense of symmetry evolves; an illusory one though, as nothing ‘balances’ in the conventional sense. Doubles ends with an improvised cadenza during the course of which the soloists become overwhelmed to the point of annihilation by the accompanying percussion group: a point where the music’s wholly abstract intent adopts a metaphorical position.

Première: 2 July 2009, RNCM; US Première: 9 July 2009, Cincinnati, Ohio. Melinda Maxwell (oboe), Paul Vowles (clarinet), RNCM Wind Orchestra, Clark Rundell, conductor. Recording: Paul Goodey, oboe; Linda Merrick, clarinet, RNCM Wind Orchestra, Clark Rundell, conductor. Great British Music for Wind Band, Vol. 15, Polyphonic QPRM156D.