Oboe Concerto

OBOE CONCERTO (EMPTY MIND I) was commissioned by deFilharmonie (Royal Flemish Philharmonic and later Antwerp Symphony Orchestra) in 2014. Wim Henderickx initially composed Empty Mind I for oboe and electronics for the same soloist, Piet van Bockstal. This work premiered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in March 2014. Both compositions are inspired by the minimalist art of Agnes Martin. The electronics are very important in this work and were realised by Jorrit Tamminga in collaboration with ChampdAction/Studio. The oboist moves around the space and the orchestra is also given an alternative arrangement. Wim Henderickx was keen to explore new and daring avenues with the symphony orchestra. This work was his first commission as artist-in-residence at deFilharmonie. The work consists of six large movements (5+1), which can be performed in any order; the composer's main aim was to break open time and space. He combined the open form (with a free order of the different movements) and the closed form (with a clearly defined score). Each movement contains a strictly composed section that reflects continuity, interspersed with a number of free passages in which the material is allowed to follow its own path – chosen by the soloist at that moment – creating discontinuity. A strictly composed melody, based on a keen interest in microtonality, is repeatedly interrupted by these free sections with extensive techniques on the oboe, such as multiphonics, glissandi, etc. The electronics consist, on the one hand, of a harmonic drone (a sound carpet) that is reproduced in different layers and, on the other hand, the sound of the oboe is manipulated live, creating an extensive harmonic spectrum based solely on the tones of this solo instrument. A third important feature of the electronics is despatialisation, whereby the sound fills the entire space through geometric patterns. The spatial aspect of this work is also reinforced by having the successive parts performed in different places in the space. Parts: I: Awakening II: Without desires III: Ecstasy IV: Contemplation V: Secret glance Epilogue