Janus began life in January of 2007, when I was drawn to the image of Janus, the Roman god associated with gates, doorways, beginnings, and endings. Frequently used to symbolize change and transitions, he was worshiped at the start of harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings.

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Because of his two faces, Janus was known as the figure representing time, seeing both the past and the future. This piece, often alternating aggressive, rhythmic punctuations with meditative, melodic passages, reflects this duality. Considering the nature of the double reed, one could say that the oboe is ideally suited for music with "two faces."