Alchemy

It's fitting that we present a CD of American works for oboe and English horn in various chamber combinations. The song-like quality of these two instruments has made them ideal for expressing long, melancholy musical lines as well as more agitated, pithy statements. Remember how it was virtually mandatory for the slow movement of a mid-20th century American symphony to begin with a deeply introspective melody on the oboe or English horn? These chamber works express a great variety of moods and sounds and diverse, individual styles, all distinctly American. Mark Hill's versatile career has included a broad range of orchestral, chamber and solo performing along with a consistent commitment to teaching. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He has also performed with the New York Woodwind Quintet, the Aspen Wind Quintet and Chamber Music Northwest, with a concentration on contemporary music such as found on this CD. A pupil of Ronald Roseman and Roger McDonald, Mr. Hill is Associate Professor of Oboe and Chamber Music at the University of Maryland School of Music.