Quatre Pièces en deux suites

Very little is known about Georges Guilhaud other than he was born in 1851 and composed for the oboe. He was a friend of Georges Gillet, Professor of Oboe at the Paris Conservatoire from 1882 until 1920. Many of his compositions, including these pieces, were dedicated to Monsieur Gillet. The Quatre Pi”ces – Berceuse, Allemande, Romance and Farandole were originally written for Oboe and Piano and published in two suites. The Berceuse is a cradle song, beginning with a steady rocking rhythm developing into a lovely melodic section with a more fluid accompaniment before returning to the steady rocking motion again. Allemande is a short piece in a Germanic style, several contrasting sections ending with a flourish. Romance has a beautiful melody, carefully interwoven with piano accompaniment. The middle section shows the versatility of the instrument before a recapitulation of the first theme ending with the soloist providing and accompaniment for the piano. The Farandole was an open