Robert Woodcock composer

Robert Woodcock (bap. 9 October 1690 – died 10 April 1728) was an English marine painter, musician, and composer who lived during the Baroque period. He is notable for having published the earliest known flute concertos, and the earliest known English oboe concertos.

Woodcock's only surviving compositions are a set of twelve concertos (3 for flute, 3 for recorder, and 3 for oboe) published by Walsh and Hare in London circa 1727. The concertos were originally published under the title: XII Concertos in Eight Parts, the first three for VIOLINS and one small FLUTE, the second three for VIOLINS and two small FLUTES, the third three for VIOLINS & one GERMAN FLUTE, and the three last for VIOLINS & one HOBOY. The proper Flute being nam'd to each Concerto.

The three flute concertos in this set are the earliest known published for that instrument, and the three oboe concertos are the first known by an English composer. Vivaldi published his opus 10 flute concertos shortly thereafter, in c.1728, and the earliest oboe concertos were published by the Italian composer Albinoni in 1715.

The earliest known mention of these works dates from 1722, when a theatre advertisement announced that "a new concerto, compos'ed by Mr. Woodcock" would be performed by recorder player John Baston on 14 March of that year.[6][7] This performance is noteworthy in that it shows that at least one of the recorder concertos was written earlier than the publication date.[2] There is other evidence of performances of Woodcock's concerti from the 1720s through the 1750s, suggesting that his works quickly became part of the standard woodwind repertoire in England at that time.

There has been some controversy as to whether or not Woodcock actually wrote these twelve concertos, however. In 1954 Brian Priestman ascribed them to Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London, and when some of the concertos were published in 1935, they were attributed to George Frideric Handel. More recent scholarship, however, supports the authorship of Robert Woodcock.


Concerto no. 1 in E major: sixth flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 2 in A major: sixth flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 3 in D major: sixth flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 4 in b minor: 2 sixth flutes, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 5 in D major: 2 sixth flutes, violins I and II, viola, basso continuo
Concerto no. 6 in D major: 2 sixth flutes, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 7 in b minor: transverse flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 8 in D major: transverse flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 9 in e minor: transverse flute, violins I and II, basso continuo
Concerto no. 10 in e minor: oboe, violins I and II, viola, basso continuo
Concerto no. 11 in c minor: oboe, violins I and II, viola, basso continuo
Concerto no. 12 in Eb major: oboe, violins I and II, basso continuo