Program Notes

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Composed in 2007, A White Mist Drifts was written at the request of Peter Alexander (Alexander Publishing) and is part of a larger project of Solo Compositions written for each major instrument of the Orchestra: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn in F, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass. The project consisted of composing music for specific poems chosen by Peter that he felt reflected the character of each instrument.  For the Solo Oboe, the poem assigned was La Mer by Oscar Wilde.

 

La Mer 

by Oscar Wilde

A white mist drifts across the shrouds,

A wild moon in this wintry sky

Gleams like an angry lion’s eye

Out of a mane of tawny clouds.

 

The muffled steersman at the wheel

Is but a shadow in the gloom; -

And in the throbbing engine-room

Leap the long rods of polished steel.

 

The shattered storm has left its trace

Upon this huge and heaving dome,

For the thin threads of yellow foam

Float on the waves like ravelled lace.