Hi Mark,

You're right about the sound: this is one piece where GM just doesn't work. The strings need to be a bit more lush and the oboe really needs vibrato.

I still don't know if the Allegro will follow this or if it will be the ragtime movement, which I'm finishing now. Since the latter was orginally envisioned as a scherzo, leaving the Largo as II with the ragtime thing as III would be traditional...

all best,
mgj