Oboe Concerto in d minor

About the Piece

• Oboe Concerto in d minor is Marcello’s best-known work, with the gorgeous “Adagio” movement being particularly famous for weddings and other romantic occasions.
• The concerto was published in 1717 in an anthology of concertos containing works by several composers.
• Listen for –
  • The distinctive character and mood for each of the three movements.

Fun Facts

• J. S. Bach not only knew of the concerto but also transcribed the piece as a concerto for solo harpsichord.
• For years, the piece was inaccurately attributed to other composers, including Vivaldi and Marcello’s brother (and fellow composer), Benedetto.¹

1. Aryeh Oron, “Alessandro Marcello (Composer),” Bach Cantatas (2008), accessed February 16, 2023, https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Marcello-Alessandro.htm.