Remembering, circling ...
The oboe quartet genre has grown in many ways.
There is hardly any other genre that has achieved classical significance with so few relevant pieces as the oboe quartet. Until 20 years ago, there were just three really well-known works, namely those by Johann Christian Bach, Wolfgang Amadé Mozart and Benjamin Britten. Fortunately, the situation has improved in recent years, and thanks to new compositions by Isang Yun, Elliott Carter, Rudolf Kelterborn and Harrison Birtwistle (all composed at Heinz Holliger's instigation and premiered by him), more diverse programming is now possible.
Xavier Dayer's "Mémoire, Cercles" now joins this illustrious series of successful compositions. He describes his work as a meditation on the question of what would happen if total oblivion made all memory completely impossible. Using a sophisticated variation technique, he changes and disguises a basic melodic idea (which never appears in its basic form) and traces the shape of a human brain in a rondo-like circular form. This sounds magical, at times enigmatic, yet very varied and multifaceted and extremely virtuosic. The rhythmic and dynamic design is consistently expressive and repeatedly creates interesting relief structures, especially when the melodic lines between the individual instruments intertwine and cross over.
Those who wish to take up the rewarding challenge can look forward to a clean and well-considered edition. Turnarounds that work and generous engraver's notes (often on a separate staff) aid understanding of the music and make it easier to rehearse what is certainly not an easy work.
Xavier Dayer: Mémoire, Cercles, for oboe, violin, viola and violoncello, MCX87, Fr. 35.00, Editions Bim, Vuarmarens 2012
