Up a notch

Up a notch aims to create a bridge between the normal oboe playing technique and the use of extended techniques, frequently found in the contemporary repertoire. Among the techniques available, I chose to explore only four of them – multiphonics, quarter tones, bisbigliando and glissandi. This piece focuses primarily on the timbre of the instrument and, although it is formally composed in a single movement, it can be divided into two small sections. Initially, the oboe’s melodic character is highlighted and later its agility is put to the test.
Up a notch was inspired by Studie II by the composer and oboist Heinz Holliger, was commissioned by Tiago Coimbra as part of the project Oboé + and premiered by him at Lisboa Incomum, Portugal in September 2024.