In 2005, the contemporary oboist, Christopher Redgate, asked me to write a piece for a concert he was performing with Ian Pace (piano) at Kings College, London University. About the same time, I discovered the news concerning the tragic death of my brother (to whom the work is dedicated). Hence the title, “Adieu mon Frère”. Unlike most of my music up to that point, I deliberately exploited the lyricism of the instrument. This is especially evident in the opening phrase of the solo oboe. However, it is a lyricism that does not make any external references to my brother’s memory; e.g. there is no intention to be sentimental.
A year later, this work became the main source of material for “Empfindsamkeit” (for oboe and string quartet).
