JOHN JOUBERT (b.1927): Concerto for Oboe and Strings, Op. 160, KENNETH LEIGHTON (1927-1988): Concerto for Oboe and Strings, Op. 23, JOHN MCCABE (b.1939): Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, CECILIA MCDOWALL (b.1951): The Gentle Dove for Oboe and String Trio, BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976): Phantasy for Oboe and String Trio, Op. 2.

Description: The three concertos are of similar length (21, 21 and, with the McCabe, 16 minutes) and all tend to favor the oboe's penchant for lyricism while avoiding the bitterness of which this reed instrument is also capable. McCabe adds harp and timpani to the string orchestra accompaniment of the other two concertos and, while none of them fit exactly into the older English pastoral tradition, they are plainly English with Leighton's being the deepest and most affecting. McDowall's six-minute piece is based on a Welsh folk-song. Jinny Shaw (oboe), Sara Trickey (violin), Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola), Bozidar Vukotic (cello), Orchestra Nova; George Vass.