Born and raised in London, Oliver King went to study at the conservatory in Leipzig 1874-7 under Reinecke and Jadassohn. After Leipzig, King moved back to London as a skilled pianist and was appointed the pianist to Princess Louise in 1879. During her trip to Ottawa, he played in several performances, touring across Canada and America both as a soloist and composer.
In 1883, the London Philharmonic Society created a composition competition where the winner would receive 10 pounds (about £1500 in today's money) King wrote his most significant piece to date, an overture titled "Among the Pines". This work was in competition with 46 other overtures including those composed by Michael Costa, and Julius Benedict. It was performed under the baton of William George Cusins, with great success, winning first place.
The Musical Times in 1883 commented about the overture, saying the Allegro's "Themes are so good, and their orchestral treatment so attractive, that we can hear them again with pleasure, and still have the zest for their recapitulation in the second part."
Among the Pines - 1882
This overture is built around a five note motif which is heard at the start of the Adagio where it is passed about in the woodwind in varied form.
SAMPLE: Among the Pines - start
In the Allegro the five note theme takes on a more sustained, lyrical character, and likewise in the recapitulation where a solo horn 'sotto voce' is answered by a trumpet before the overture ends in an exhuberant flourish.
SAMPLE: Among the Pines - end