Excerpt: Orchestral music for bass oboe (chronological)
by Peter Hurd; reorganized and amended by Holger Hoos, editor-in-chief since 2020
version 2 (1 February 2022)
This collection is based on the catalogue of musical works requiring heckelphone or bass oboe instrumentation assembled by Peter Hurd beginning in 1998. For this new edition, the original version of the repertoire list has been edited for accuracy, completeness and consistency, and it has been extended with a number of newly discovered pieces.
Some entries could not (yet) be rigorously verified for accuracy; these were included nonetheless, to provide leads for future investigation, but are marked clearly. Pieces were selected for inclusion based solely on the use of heckelphone, bass oboe or lupophone, without any attempt at assessing their artistic merit. Arrangements of pieces not originally intended for these instruments were included when there was clear evidence that they had found a significant audience.
We gratefully acknowledge contributions by Crawford Best, Ulrich Brokamp, Michael Finkelman, Francis Firth, Alain Girard, Thomas Hiniker, Robert Howe, Gunther Joppig, Georg Otto Klapproth, Mark Perchanok, Andrew Shreeves and Michael Sluman.
Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): Eine Messe des Lebens (A Mass of Life), 1904-1905
Publisher: Harmonie Verlag, Berlin
Remarks: dedicated to Fritz Cassirer; premiere on 7 June 1909 at Queen's Hall, London, under Thomas Beecham; part 2 was first performed on 4 June 1908 in Munich by the Hofkapelle München; according to Klapproth (2008), the bass oboe part in the score was originally intended for heckelphone
Duration: 135min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): Songs of Sunset, 1906-1907
Publisher: F.E.C. Leuckart, Leipzig
Remarks: for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra; dedicated to the Elberfelder Gesangverein (Elberfeld Choral Society)
Duration: 30min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): A Dance Rhapsody, 1908
Publisher: F.E.C. Leuckart, Leipzig
Remarks: dedicated to Hermann Suter; premiere on 8 September 1909 in the Hereford Shire Hall, as part of the Three Choirs Festival, conducted by the composer; according to Klapproth (2008), the bass oboe part in the score was originally intended for heckelphone
Duration: 12min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): An Arabesque, 1911
Publisher: Universal Edition, Wien
Remarks: for baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra; dedicated to Halfdan Jebe; premiere on 28 May 1920 by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Welsh Musical Festival Choral Society under Albert Ernest Sims
Duration: 13min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872-1958): A London Symphony, 1913-1914
Publisher: Stainer & Bell, London
Remarks: dedicated to George Butterworth; premiere on 27 March 1914 in London, UK, under Geoffrey Toye; several versions exist of which the last, from 1934, was intended by the composer to supersede all earlier versions; the 1934 version no longer uses bass oboe
Duration: 45min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): Requiem, 1913-1916
Publisher: Universal Edition, Wien
Remarks: dedicated to the memory of all young artists fallen in the war; premiere on 23 March 1922 at Queen's Hall, London, under Albert Coates
Duration: 30min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Grainger, Percy (1882-1961): The Warriors (Music to an imaginary ballet), 1913-1916
Publisher: B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz (B.S.S.31023b)
Remarks: for orchestra & 3 pianos; dedicated to Frederick Delius; premiere on 7 June 1917 in Norfolk (Virginia), USA, under Percy Grainger
Duration: 18min
Tags: bass oboe, heckelphone; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Holst, Gustav (1874-1934): The Planets, op. 32, 1914-1916
Publisher: Goodwin & Tabb, London, 1921
Remarks: for female chorus and orchestra; premiere on 29 September 1918 in London, UK, by the Queen's Hall Orchestra under Adrian Boult; dedicated to Imogen Holst; bass oboe can be heard prominently in "Saturn", "Mars", "Uranus" and "Mercury"
Duration: 47min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Piano Concerto No. 2, op. 10, 1917
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KK14); Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel (ms)
Remarks: no orchestral manuscript is known to survive, but a reference to one is documented in Sorabji’s June 1917 letter to Philip Heseltine, which also mentions the use of bass oboe; the extant manuscript is a reduction for two pianos
Duration: 25min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Concerto pour Piano et Grand Orchestre (Piano Concerto No. 4), 1918
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KKS18)
Duration: 25min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Bax, Arnold (1883-1953): Symphony No. 1, 1922
Publisher: Murdoch, London (1923); Warner Chappell Music
Remarks: the score lists "Heckelphone or Bass-Oboe"; dedicated to John Ireland; premiere on 4 December 1922 in London, by the London Symphony Orchestra under Albert Coates
Duration: 32min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Symphony for Piano, Large Orchestra, Chorus and Organ (Symphony No. 1), 1921-1922
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KSS30)
Remarks: dedicated to Madelaine Mathilde Sorabji
Duration: 100min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Brian, Havergal (1876-1972): Symphony No. 1 in D minor ("The Gothic"), 1919-1927
Publisher: August Cranz, Leipzig (1932); United Music Publishers Limited (1976)
Remarks: originally No. 2 - re-numbering authorised by the composer 1967; dedicated to Richard Strauss; premiere 24 June 1961
Duration: 105min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Concerto V for Piano and Large Orchestra (Piano Concerto No. 8), 1927-1928
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KSS45)
Remarks: dedicated to Aldo Solito de Solis
Duration: 100min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Symphony "Jāmī" for Large Orchestra, Wordless Chorus and Baritone Solo (Symphony No. 3), 1942-1951
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KSS72)
Remarks: dedicated to Mervyn Vicars
Duration: 280min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Opus Clavisymphonicum (Concerto for Piano & Large Orchestra), 1957-1959
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KSS80)
Remarks: dedicated to John Ireland; scored for two bass oboes
Duration: 100min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra, multiple
Additional information can be found here.
Searle, Humphrey (1915-1982): Symphony No. 3, op. 36, 1959-1960
Publisher: Schott
Remarks: dedicated to Yolande Sonnabend; premiere in 1960 in Edinburgh, UK, under John Pritchard
Duration: 18min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892-1988): Messa Alta Sinfonica, 1955-1961
Publisher: Sorabji Archive (KSS84)
Remarks: dedicated to Reginald Best
Duration: 320min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Tippett, Michael (1905-1998): Triple Concerto, 1978-1979
Publisher: Schott Music
Remarks: for violin, viola, cello and orchestra; commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra with assistance from the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust; premiere on 22 August 1980 in London, UK, by György Pauk (violin), Nobuko Imai (viola), Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) and the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis
Duration: 32min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Sargon, Simon (1938-): Symphony No. 1 (Holocaust), 1985
Publisher: available from the composer (rental)
Remarks: for male chorus, baritone, orchestra; dedicated to Eduardo Mata; premiere in 1991 by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Eduardo Mata
Duration: 22min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Forster, Walter von (1915-2002): Kantate "Es ist Zeit, daß der Herr handelt", op. VIII/88, 1988
Publisher: ms
Remarks: for solo baritone, mixed chorus and ensemble; the heckelphone (or bass oboe) part is rather prominent
Duration: 5min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Vidjeskog, Patrick (1964-): Två tämligen höga visor, op. 24, 1990-1992
Publisher: Music Finland (MF12400)
Remarks: for baritone and orchestra; text by Ole Torvalds
Duration: 14min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Bryars, Gavin (1943-): The East Coast, 1994
Remarks: for bass oboe solo with orchestra; commissioned by Lawrence Cherney, with additional funds made available by the Arts Council of England; premiere in January 1995 in Winnipeg, Canada, by Lawrence Cherney (bass oboe) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey
Duration: 15min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra, solo
Additional information can be found here.
Goebbels, Heiner (1952-): Suite for Sampler and Orchestra (from "Surrogate Cities"), 1993-1994
Publisher: Ricordi, Berlin (Sy. 3296)
Remarks: for sampler and large orchestra; premiere on 31 August 1994 in Frankfurt/Main; alternate version for sampler and ensemble
Duration: 30min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Goebbels, Heiner (1952-): Drei Horatier-Songs (from "Surrogate Cities"), 1993-1994
Publisher: Ricordi, Berlin (Sy. 3297)
Remarks: for mezzo-soprano and orchestra; based upon texts by Heiner Mueller; premiere on 31 August 1994 in Frankfurt/Main; alternate version for mezzo-soprano and ensemble
Duration: 15min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Davis, Carl (1936-): A Circle of Stones, 1996
Remarks: four symphonic pictures for orchestra
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Mozetich, Marjan (1948-): Postcards from the Sky II (Earthly Descent, At the Tomb of Maurice, Ascension), 1996
Remarks: for oboe, cor anglais, bass oboe and string orchestra
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra, concertante
Additional information can be found here.
Adès, Thomas (1971-): Asyla, op. 17, 1997
Publisher: Faber Music (057151863X)
Remarks: for large orchestra; commissioned by the John Feeney Charitable Trust for the CBSO; first performed on 1997/10/01 in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle
Duration: 22-25min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
James, Joseph: Requiem after J.S. Bach, 1997 [?]this entry is only partially verified
Remarks: based on music by Johann Sebastian Bach; premiere in October 1997 in London, UK; "Joseph James" is the pseudonym for the collaboration between US composers and arrangers Stanley Joseph Seeger and Francis James Brown
Duration: 36min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Aho, Kalevi (1949-): Symphony No. 11 for six percussionists and orchestra, 1997-1998
Publisher: Fennica Gehrman
Remarks: premiere on 10 March 2000, by the Kroumata ensemble and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä
Duration: 34min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Kennedy, Nigel (1956-): Melody in the Wind, 1998
Remarks: arrangement by Nigel Kennedy, John Lenahan and Malcolm Messiter; recorded in June 1998 in London, UK, with the English Chamber Orchestra under Paul Barritt and released on EMI Classics; bass oboe played by Janice Knight
Duration: 6min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Matthews, Colin (1946-): Pluto the Renewer, 2000
Publisher: Faber Music (0-571-52074-X)
Remarks: commissioned by the Hallé Concerts Society for performance with Holst’s "The Planets"; premiere on 11 May 2000 in Manchester, England, by the Hallé Orchestra under Kent Nagano
Duration: 6min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Rihm, Wolfgang (1952-): Deus Passus (Passions-Stücke nach Lukas), 1999-2000
Publisher: Universal Edition
Remarks: oratorio; commissioned by Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart; premiere in August 2000 in Stuttgart, Germany
Duration: 100min
Tags: bass oboe, heckelphone; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Schuller, Gunther (1925-2015): Encounters, 2003
Publisher: Wise Music (rental)
Remarks: for large orchestra and jass ensemble
Duration: 24min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
McCabe, John (1939-2015): Symphony on a Pavane (Np. 6), 2006
Publisher: Novello & Co. Ltd. (rental)
Remarks: commissioned by and dedicated to the London Philharmonic Orchestra; premiere on 10 January 2007 in London, England, by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Steven Sloane
Duration: 21min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Adès, Thomas (1971-): Tevot, 2007
Publisher: Faber Music (ISBN 0571536743)
Remarks: symphony in one movement for large orchestra; commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall; premiere 2007/02/21 by the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle at the Berliner Philharmonie
Duration: 22min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Aulio, Maxime (1980-): Symphonie de l'espace, op. 20, 2004-2009
Publisher: Association Française pour l’Essor des Ensembles à Vent (AFEEV)
Remarks: for large wind orchestra and chorus; the score shows the instrumentation to include "Heckelphone (Bass Oboe)", but labels the part "Baritone Oboe"
Duration: 50min
Tags: heckelphone, bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Tyler, Brian (1972-): Fast & Furious (film), 2009
Publisher: Universal Pictures
Remarks: bass oboe played by Chris Bleth
Duration: 107min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here.
Wilson, Dall: Bluegrass Symphony, 2009 [?]this entry is only partially verified
Publisher: Dall Wilson Music
Remarks: for orchestra, saxophone, bass oboe and bass clarinet
Duration: 17min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra, concertante
A recording is available here.
Stephenson, James M. (1969-): Duels & Dances, 2011
Remarks: for solo oboe and wind ensemble; uses 5 different oboes (oboe, oboe d’amore, cor anglains, oboe and musette); other versions also exist; commissioned by the Minnesota Commissioning Club; dedicated to and premiered by Alex Klein (oboe) and The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band under Jason K. Fettig
Duration: 13min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Talbot, Joby (1971-): Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity, 2012
Publisher: Chester Music Ltd
Remarks: for orchestra and chorus; commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra as part of the interactive installation "Universe of Sound"; premiere 2012/07/08 by the Philharmonia Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
Duration: 7min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Nickel, Christopher Tyler (1978-): Concerto for Bass Oboe, 2016
Publisher: Canadian Music Centre (MI 1622 N641con)
Duration: 21min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.
Perks, Stephen (1956-): The Daughters of Zelophehad (Fantasia for bass oboe and small orchestra), 2016
Duration: 17min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
A recording is available here.
Dalton, Owen (1997-): Behind Closed Doors, 2017
Remarks: for orchestra
Duration: 8min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
A recording is available here.
Powley, James: Eventide Shadows, 2017
Remarks: for solo tenor and large orchestra, based on the Moors murders
Duration: 11min
Tags: bass oboe; orchestra
Additional information can be found here; a recording is available here.