Stoke Abbott 2011

oboe

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First performed at the Beaminster Festival on the 29th June 2018 by Mana Shibata. 

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Duration 8' | Difficulty Professional | Scoring solo oboe

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Programme Note 

Stoke Abbott was inspired by a wintry visit to the village of the same name in Dorset.

 

Firelight

The fireplace is scattered with matchsticks,

their little sparks of flame burnt out on the stubborn wood.

Sometimes there would be just a speck of red in the iron grate.

Sometimes a great orange tongue would lick the chimney wall.

But still the room remains icy cold, unchallenged by the dormant fire.

 

Hilltop

Standing high on the hilltop,

surrounded by frozen fields and icy winds,

the shadow of the old Roman fort remains watchful.

 

The Deer

The hedgerow rustles.

We stop and stare until a great brown blur runs from its cover.

It dashes across the snow white fields.

Then the deer stops and stares.

With a sudden change of heart the deer turns and races away,

and loses itself in the icy world.

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