Telluric Dances (Oboe and Piano)

This edition is an arrangement of the original work, scored for oboe and orchestra. It has been arranged by Kevin Lau to work as a stand-alone recital piece but also functions as a rehearsal tool for the orchestral version.

Influenced by Greek dance music, Hatzis' concerto for oboe and orchestra showcases virtuosic oboe performance through a blend of exotic and exciting music based on mediterranean and Eastern European dance forms. Each of the three movements centres on a style of dance: chiftetelli, a common dance form originating from the Eastern Mediterranean; a passacaglia based on a 9-beat rhythmic pattern known in Greece as a zeibekiko (an improvised dance characterised by sudden and unexpected movements); and a common Balkan folk dance. Throughout the work, Hatzis references tonal modes characteristic of Turkish and Arabic music, which he first encountered in the Greek night-clubs of Toronto while working as a young composer in local bands. As such, this work reveals aspects in the genesis of Hatzis' eclectic style of music. Professional and advancing oboists alike will soar and exhilarate audiences with this work.