(The forums are drowning in "Favorite something" threads, so I simply had to make a thread for all the wind-worshipers out there.)

Here is my list.

It will be shorter than the lists on the other favorite-threads and I'll write a little bit about the works (just like Kurkikohtaus does on the favorite piano concerto thread, I really liked that).

Because I am required to play a solo part in a concerto with my school's string band, I have been listening to a great deal of oboe concertos (there is surprisingly much to choose from). My favorite oboist is Lajos Lencés, he has a really great tone, bright and really refined, but not over-smooth. Although Heinz Holliger is more famous, the most known oboist in the world I'd think, I can't apreciate his thin, and almost cold, tone. Other oboists I like are Maurice Bourgue, Oliver Doise and Emanuel Abbühl.
There won't be any clarinet concertos on my list, I simply do not like the sound of the clarinet, so please don't flame me for not putting Mozart's most celebrated work, and the best known wind concerto, onto this list.


1.Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto for Oboe d'Amore, in A, BWV.
The second movement, larghetto, is simply the most beautiful music I have ever heard. For that alone I place the concerto on the top (but the rest is in no particular order). The string part in the movement is really simple, while the oboe d'amore sings a highly lyrical and expressive line. The allegro movements surrounding the larghetto do not posses it's supernatural beauty but have other qualities, so they are also enjoyable, not completely overshadowed by the larghetto.
The concerto fits the oboe d'amore perfectly, I have heard transcriptions but it simply does not function on other instruments. I allow myself to say that the piece is lesser-known because the oboe d'amore itself is a rare instrument. I place the concerto among Bach's best works.

2.Antonio Rosetti: Oboe concerto, in D
A concerto by a forgotten bohemian composer of the classical era. The piece is full of humor and wit, a fine example of the oboe not in it's role of melodic expression.

3. Carl Maria von Weber: Bassoon concerto
Most people think about Weber as the genius who wrote the opera Der Freischutz, I think about him as the genius who wrote the only great double-reed concerto of the romantic era (if you know about other great double-reed concertos of the romantic era (besides the italian ones) please let me know!).

4. Antonio Vivaldi: Oboe concerto, in a
The first concerto I played (with piano reduction of the strings), he is one of Vivaldi's better oboe concertos, but not the best, simply a favorite.

5. Aaron Copland: Quiet City
A double concerto for trumpet and english horn. With this unique combination Copland catches a still and serene, but very special, atmosphere. A great piece.

I have a CD of Vivaldi's Concertos for Winds, which is quite good. My favourite would have to be his RV422 in F major, particularly the second movement.

I like the sound of the clarinet so my choices are the obvious (Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major) and the not so obvious (Finzi's Clarinet Concerto)

Gerald Finzi is my favourite of the modern composers (1901 - 1956). Hopefully he'll soon get the recognition he deserves. I agree with your choice of his Clarinet Concerto.

Lynne xx

Mozart Clarinet Concerto by miles. I won't bore you with my other preferences. I actually find most of them rather boring.

How's that for a short post!



Topaz

I agree with you Topaz, most known Wind concertos today are of the same quality as righteously forgotten violin and piano concertos. That is why I wanted to have the lists shorter and why I think a 'best of' thread for wind concertos could be really useful.

What instrument played it? I thought RV422 was a cello concerto.

Oops, I made a mistake - should have been RV442. :P

I have just heard the Finzi Clarinet Concerto on Radio 3. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it or that it was in any way unpleasant. It was OK to quite good, but that's all. It struck me that there is nothing brilliant about it: just another forgettable modern piece to me, I'm afraid. I guess if I heard it again I might like it rather more, but it's most unlikely to be anything I might ever buy.

At least they played it on Radio 3. I have never heard it on Classic FM (which I have now deserted: can't stand the adverts).


Topaz

Topaz,

I have heard the Finzi Clarinet Concerto played on Classic FM's Evening Concert (one of the stations' best programmes along with those of Natalie Wheen and David Mellor).
For me, Finzi's appeal lies in the "pastoral" nature of his music, similar in some ways to that of RVW (the two were friends, indeed VW outlived the younger man).

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"Look here, I have given up my time, my work, my friends and my career to come here and learn from you, and I am not going to write a petit menuet dans le style de Mozart." - Ralph Vaughan Williams to Maurice Ravel

Lark Ascending

Yes, I agree I was a bit harsh about CFM. It is normally good in the evening, and I do like Natalie Wheen and David Mellor, as I have said elsewhere. I'm currently listening to Messiah on Classic FM's evening concert, which is a new recording (not sure by whom) but is superb.

The Finzi clarinet concerto was new to me and I was surprised how conventional it was, not "just a load of notes bunged together" as someone said elsewhere in relation to Berg, which still has me in hysterics. I confess to a great deal of ignorance about Finzi. Maybe I should investigate further. Thanks for your comments. And if Lynx likes Finzi too, I respect her views.


Topaz

Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto is now my favourite. And the 2nd Horn Concerto of Richard Strauss (of which there's a quite phenomenal recording available with Dennis Brain as the soloist).

Oh, not forgetting the Mozart (yes, Mozart !) Bassoon Concerto, KV 199. And the JS Bach Concerto for Oboe D'Amore.

I've spoken about this piece elsewhere, might as well talk about it a little bit here.

Benjamin Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings

While not a pure "Wind Concerto" in the vain of Mozart etc., the combination of expressive, atmospheric and virtuosic writing for the horn is unparalleled!

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Finzi's music is light years removed from that of the 12 tone composers. I can recommend a Naxos disc of his works catalogue number 8.553566, it includes the Clarinet Concerto, Romance in E Flat and Introit in F. Like I said in my earlier post he's in the VW mould of pastoral British composers so if you like VW you may like him.

All the best

Lark

__________________
"Look here, I have given up my time, my work, my friends and my career to come here and learn from you, and I am not going to write a petit menuet dans le style de Mozart." - Ralph Vaughan Williams to Maurice Ravel

Well, technically is the human voice a wind instrument