'My wife Jane is an oboist, so for many years I have listened, most patiently, to moans about reeds and unsympathetic composers who don't understand the instrument. I hope these little pieces come some way to redress thesecond problem. Four of the pieces are unaccompanied and exploit the lonely, haunting quality of the Oboe, which daily echoes around our house. One of them (guess which) was composed during a power cut and first played bycandlelight.'

Guy Woolfenden</str...