Okay, I have an audition for a teaching job next week. I have to play approx. 6 mins worth of music, split between two pieces, roughly 3+3. (And there's no accompanist.)

I'm fairly certain I'm going to do two of the Britten Metamorphoses (Pan and Bacchus). But can't decide my other three minutes worth. The options are:

1) Mozart Concerto 1st movement (extract of) - I can play it but am worried my choices are then a bit dull / mainstream.
2) a Schumann Romance (not sure which yet)
3) Bach G minor Sonata (BWV 1030B) (extract of) - I like this but my other half thinks it's dull (maybe it's just the way I'm playing it!)
4) A bit of Kalliwoda Morceau de Salon (for those who don't know it - a mixture of nice Romantic tunes and showy-offy arpeggio bits) - am slightly worried this could go horribly wrong...

Any opinions?! (Even if you don't know them all!)

I would choose either the Mozart or Bach, show something which requires a certain style of playing as well the fact that its meant to be accompanied with steady tempo etc,

Just check the timing of the 2 solo pieces, Im sure you only need to play one of them, I think with both you might be pushing an extract of 1-2 mins for the other choice.

I have no idea what they are looking for and six minutes seems hardly any time at all at your level but for what it's worth here is my opinion on your pieces.

I'm not overkeen on Mozart but if you want something that they are probably familiar with even if they are not oboe specialists then this would be the one to go for.

The advantage of a Romance would be that you could play the whole thing, rather than just an extract. What about the 2nd one? I have the impression that this is not played as much as the 1st and the 3rd. It doesn't sound too bad without the piano and the middle section contrasts quite sharply with the beginning and end.

Bach would also be recognisably Bach to non-oboe specialists. Does your other-half not like Bach in general or is it just your interpretation that he dislikes. If he is not keen on Bach anyway then I would be inclined to ignore his opinion and play it anyway if you like it.

Kalliwoda. I have a CD of this which I like very much and about a year ago there was a copy of the music going cheaply on e-bay so I bought it and then decided that it is far harder than it sounds and that I wouldn't take it along just yet to my lesson saying I want to learn this. You wouldn't be able to play very much of it in three minutes and I think you need to hear a fair amount of the piece to appreicate the contrasting sections. I would also be inclined to disregard it if you think it is likely to go wrong. After all why take a risk when you have other pieces that you are more comfortable playing?

Let us know what you decide in the end and Good Luck.

Bach and Schumann, nice contrast, not overly long, both will work well without a pianist....Mozart, done to death and really needs an orchestra....don't know the Kalliwoda but if you are uncertain about hitting all the twiddly bits then best not to try...play what you are comfortable with...

good luck, keep us posted.

regards

Andrew



whoops just noticed that you are going to do Britten, and needed one suggestion....BACH defintely BACH...

Am leaning towards Bach at the moment, despite what the other half says (he's not a big Old Music fan anyway). Have put in lots more dynamics and interesting phrasing to zing it up a bit. (I just hope my audience are not keen on authentic performance practice!)

Kalliwoda is coming along okay, but it seems to be one of those pieces that if you stuff something up at the beginning of the fast section, it's impossible to get back on track for ages. So a bit risky.

Got my Bacchus semiquavers sorted - yay! (Hope that's not premature jubilation.)

Final decision tomorrow!

It went okay - a few stupid mistakes but never mind... and they gave me the job (though now I'm not sure if I want it! )

Luckily they didn't want the whole of what I'd prepared, so I didn't have to do the tricky bit of Bacchus!!

Well Done Claire, I am glad it went well and that they offered you the job...

regards

Andrew

Well done!

Congrats on getting the job! Sorry I hadn't read the post until now. In any case, for an audition for a teaching job, I would not play something flashy (like the Kalliwoda). I personally like to show musicality, which is more important than technique for a teaching job. One can be a "has-been" (just like me!) and still be a great teacher.