What are your favorite pieces and recordings of those pieces? I am especially interested in pieces where strings are not included, but by no means want this to be the limit of what you wish to list. Thanks.
Ligeti's ten pieces for wind quintet has been a favorite of mine since I first encountered it in grad school. I've had the chance to see it live a handful of times, but the only recording I have is the Ligeti edition disk 7. It serves me well and have no complaints about it, but I think there are probbly a few others out there.
Allan
Quote from: Bogey on February 28, 2008, 07:29:49 PM
What are your favorite pieces and recordings of those pieces? I am especially interested in pieces where strings are not included. Thanks.
Some personal favourites
Britten: Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe (Hansjörg Schellenberger)
Debussy: Syrinx for solo flute (Athena Ensemble on Chandos)
Reich: Vermont Counterpoint for flute and tape (the tape has some 10 other flutes if I recall) - I recommend Wilson Ransom's recording (everyone else I've heard is off on intonation and rhythm badly)
Reich: New York Counterpoint for clarinet and tape (something like 10 other clarinets) I recall enjoying Richard Stoltzman's recording
Takemitsu: Garden Rain for small brass ensemble - Canadian Brass (that CD is sadly out of print I think)
These pieces are quite good, but I'm really lacking in this department :-[
For straight up wind sextet there's Janacek's Mládí (Youth) scored for flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and horn. Fabulous work.
The Mackerras disc below is a great choice, and it comes with great fillers, including two other chamber works for winds w/ assorted instrumental accompaniments (Cappriccio and Concertino).
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PQKGYFXFL._SS500_.jpg)
I always thought that Shostakovich would have written some great wind chamber musix, especially given what goes on in the 5th symphony. He sadly leaves us wanting... :'(
Quote from: toledobass on February 28, 2008, 07:38:30 PM
Ligeti's ten pieces for wind quintet has been a favorite of mine since I first encountered it in grad school.
His 6 Bagatelles for wind quintet is a very enjoyable piece too.
Also, I have always enjoyed the wind quintet in general. French composers like Ibert, Milhaud and Françaix have all excelled in this genre, and also written much other wind music. Poulenc also wrote a great sextet (wind quintet + piano) as well as various other wind chamber music (mostly with piano). Two other great wind quintets that come to mind are Nielsen's (memorable to bassoonists for its low A on the final chord) as well as Hindemith's Kleine Kammermusik.
Beethoven's Wind Sextet Op. 71 for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, and 2 bassoons is a fairly obscure early work that is absolutely delightful. I played the horn part during a performance once and loved it ever since.
Quote from: hornteacher on February 29, 2008, 03:26:56 AM
Beethoven's Wind Sextet Op. 71 for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, and 2 bassoons is a fairly obscure early work that is absolutely delightful. I played the horn part during a performance once and loved it ever since.
Love that piece hornteacher. I have it by Consortium Classicum and The Wind Soloists of Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Quote from: hornteacher on February 29, 2008, 03:26:56 AM
Beethoven's Wind Sextet Op. 71 for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, and 2 bassoons is a fairly obscure early work that is absolutely delightful. I played the horn part during a performance once and loved it ever since.
One question for clarification . . .
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4842/columbo70scl7.jpg)
In this sextet, there are (you tell us) two horn parts. So
which is "the horn part"?
8)
Wind music is another type of music that I still have not gotten into. Just can't stand it most of the time. However, there is one piece that I enjoy very much.
For Philip Guston, by Feldman.
Almost four hours long, but it does count as wind chamber music, does it not? There is a flute in there.
Paul love the Nielsen and Tafenel(sp?).
Quote from: karlhenning on February 29, 2008, 04:47:26 AM
One question for clarification . . .
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4842/columbo70scl7.jpg)
In this sextet, there are (you tell us) two horn parts. So which is "the horn part"?
8)
:D
Quote from: vanessa_zang on February 29, 2008, 04:52:04 AM
Wind music is another type of music that I still have not gotten into. Just can't stand it most of the time. However, there is one piece that I enjoy very much.
For Philip Guston, by Feldman.
I don't know this piece,
Vanessa, but I like
Feldman a great deal (even while I listen to his music very differently than I listen to aught music else).
Malcolm Arnold: Three Shanties for wind quintet
Arnold: Trio for flute, oboe and clarinet (I've read that Arnold wrote a lot of music for small, odd combinations during WWII, since small, odd combinations were usually all he had then. :-\)
Samuel Barber: Summer Music for wind quintet
Beethoven: Trio for 2 oboes and English horn, Opus 87
Alban Berg: Chamber Concerto for piano, violin and 13 winds
Irving Fine: Partita for wind quintet
Alan Hovhaness: Wind Quintet, Opus 159 (I've been trying to get my quintet to play this for years, but the other players don't appreciate its meditative qualities! :-\)
Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Oboe and Piano (the last thing he completed before his death)
Edgard Varèse: Density 21.5, for solo flute
Varèse: Octandre, for 7 winds and double bass
I just learned recently that Arnold Schoenberg wrote a wind quintet! Anybody heard it?
Quote from: jochanaan on February 29, 2008, 05:55:25 AM
Alan Hovhaness: Wind Quintet, Opus 159 (I've been trying to get my quintet to play this for years, but the other players don't appreciate its meditative qualities!)
Hmmmm . . . .
Quote from: donwyn on February 28, 2008, 09:40:27 PM
For straight up wind sextet there's Janacek's Mládí (Youth) scored for flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and horn. Fabulous work.
My favourite wind sextet. The Netherlands Wind Ensemble has a disc on Chandos. The Oslo Philharmonic Winds has one on Naxos. Both are superb recordings.
There are plenty of good works written for winds. The French from the 20th century are impeccable composers of wind music. Ibert, Poulenc, Francaix etc all wrote quality wind music.
Gounod's Petite Symphony is a welcome piece for anyone interested in this genre.
There is a wealth of good music written for winds. It is unbelievable how much repertoire is neglected that were written for winds. Beethoven and Mozart both wrote beautiful piano quintets scored for piano and 4 winds and they are worth checking out. Every all star team imaginable has recorded it.
Howard
I forgot to mention: the Homecoming Wind Quartet did a lovely transcription recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. I think its two oboes, English horn & bassoon. Very woody sounding. :)
Quote from: karlhenning on February 29, 2008, 04:47:26 AM
One question for clarification . . .
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4842/columbo70scl7.jpg)
In this sextet, there are (you tell us) two horn parts. So which is "the horn part"?
8)
Oops. I haven't perfected the art of playing two horns at the same time. ;D
I did play ONE of the horn parts in the sextet. I think it was the 2nd horn because I've always been good in the low register and there were some bass clef sections if I remember correctly.
I think the art of the fugue works great for saxophone quartet, but then I love the saxophone. ;D ;D I have the Berlin Sax Quartet's recording. I've also heard it for woodwind quartet, and wasn't quite as impressed.
The standard for Wind Quintets was set long ago by Antoine Reicha. He wrote 24 with Op #'s, and 1 or 2 WoO. They are for Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Horn & Bassoon. Reicha was a master at passing the thematic material around among all the players, and each of these works is a gem in itself. Reicha was a friend and contemporary of Beethoven, outliving him by just a few years.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ta25-rx0L._AA240_.jpg)
I don't have this disk, but I have some by the Praguer's on Hyperion and the Michael Thompson Quintet on Naxos. Very commendable. :)
8)
Just purchased these two Chamber Winds CDs this week and LOVE them!
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=171971
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=858&name_role1=1&genre=55&bcorder=19&comp_id=221589
Thanks for those. That Dvorak disc, especially, looks interesting!
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on February 29, 2008, 03:51:19 PM
The standard for Wind Quintets was set long ago by Antoine Reicha. He wrote 24 with Op #'s, and 1 or 2 WoO. They are for Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Horn & Bassoon. Reicha was a master at passing the thematic material around among all the players, and each of these works is a gem in itself. Reicha was a friend and contemporary of Beethoven, outliving him by just a few years.
I don't have this disk, but I have some by the Praguer's on Hyperion and the Michael Thompson Quintet on Naxos. Very commendable. :)
8)
The 2 cd set with the Prague Academy Wind Quintet is to die for. Such beautiful playing.
Howard
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on February 29, 2008, 03:51:19 PM
The standard for Wind Quintets was set long ago by Antoine Reicha......................
I'd agree w/
Gurn to checkout Reicha - the Hyperion Dyad contains 5 of these works @ a good price - CLICK on the image to see the listings, if interested. :)
Some other composers that might be of interest:
Cartellieri, Antonio -
Wind Divermenti & Wind Sextets - 2 separate CDs w/ Consortium Classicum on CPO & MDG, respectively.
Danzi, Franz -
Wind Quintets - own a couple of Naxos CDs w/ the Thompson Wind Quintet.
Gambaro, Vincent -
Wind Quartets w/ Consortium Classicum on MDG; an unknown to me on purchase.
Hoffmeister, Franz -
Wind Serenades w/ Consortium Classicum (yet again!) on CPO; Klocker & this group on CPO & MDG have recorded (and at times discovered) some glorious wind works!
Krommer, Franz -
Wind Partitas - have 2 discs, both on Naxos; performers are the Thompson Wind Ensemble & Budapest Wind Ensemble - if you like wind quartets/concertos, etc., Krommer offers much!
Rosetti, Antonio -
Wind Partitas - again w/ Consortium Classicum on CPO; as w/ Krommer, this composer also offers a wealth of other wind works.
Strauss, Richard -
Wind Music - nice Philips Duo below on these works - :D
(http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/jpegs/22006.jpg)[/url (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41B810260WL._AA240_.jpg)] (http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/22006.asp)
Quote from: James on February 28, 2008, 08:39:59 PM
Stravinsky's Octet for 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 bassoons, flute & clarinet (Sony Stravinsky Box or Sony Salonen)
Stravinsky is obviously a genius regarding the use of wind instruments, it's noticeable in almost any of his works.
W. A. Mozart - Gran Partita KV 361, Serenade for Winds KV 375 & KV 388, Quintet for Piano and Winds KV 452
L. van Beethoven - Quintet for Piano and Winds op. 16
Also, completely unknown but absolutely smashing:
Pierre Prowo (1697-1757) - Trio Sonatas for Flute, Oboe and Bassoon
Obviously I was going to say Janacek's Mladi, but it's already been mentioned. So I therefore want to urge a wonderful work which can easily be seen as Mladi's companion - the Wind Quintet by Pavel Haas, Janacek's best pupil and practically his only follower, in as much as Haas absorbed Janacekian traits into his own style when almost no one else was able to do so. The Wind Quintet is utterly delightful, just like the Janacek piece.
Once you're exploring early 20th century Czech music for wind ensemble, you might want to look at Haba's Nonets too....