Adieu Mon Frere

In 2005, the contemporary oboist, Christopher Redgate, asked me to write a piece for a concert he was performing with Ian Pace (piano) at Kings College, London University. About the same time, I discovered the news concerning the tragic death of my brother (to whom the work is dedicated). Hence the title, &quote;Adieu mon Frere&quote;. Unlike most of my music up to that point, I deliberately exploited the lyricism of the instrument. This is especially evident in the opening phrase of the solo oboe. However, it is a lyricism that does not make any external references to my brother's memory; e.g. there is no intention to be sentimental. A year later, this work became the main source of material for &quote;Empfindsamkeit&quote; (for oboe and string quartet).