Wind Quintets

snyprrr · October 05, 2012, 11:40:23 AM

I don't think there is a thread devoted exclusively to the venerable (wood)Wind Quintet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_quintet

I'm afraid I'm in no mood for poetics, so, let's get right down to it then.

I always like to find the genesis of various Musical Genres (Haydn/SQ, PT), and it appears we have twin baby daddies in this category, Franz Danzi & Anton Reicha. I am only now beginning to look into these two.

I find the WWQ begins for me with Nielsen. There is something so noble and regal about this piece that makes me think of Denmark's royalty, especially the chilly 'Praeludium'. I wonder who you like in this piece. I've never felt the need to go beyond the Ensemble Wien-Berlin (with Taffanel).

But, the fun really begins with Hindemith, The French (Milhaud, Ibert, Bozza, Francaix, etc.,...), Janacek, Schoenberg, and, probably, too many to mention (or remember). Surely I'm leaving something out.

Then, we have the Americans, which, frankly, sound mostly French, for good reason (Boulanger). There are certain pieces which seem to end up on every recital: pieces by Carter, Fine, Persichetti, Berger, Schuller, Barber, and even Beach,... Harbison and Rochberg have become ubiquitous part of the landscape. Perle has a fine disc on NewWorld that has become a cult classic.

I'll pretty much try any WWQ from the '50s and '60s, since I am pretty well guaranteed a certain type of post-War flavor that I find found its way into the TV shows of the '70s (note the stacked fourths in Carter's). Lately I've quite taken to one by Irwin Bazelon which teems with the energy of the city.

In the avant circles, things get a little thinner. We have Stockhausen, Berio, and Ligeti, but it seems that the WWQ hasn't really very far to go before we hit the brick wall of Sciarrino's pieces.

Well, what do you think?

Brian · October 05, 2012, 11:42:19 AM

MusicWeb assigned me an MDG CD of Francaix wind quintets and, like everything Francaix wrote, it's a frothy treat. Jean Francaix was the pumpkin spice latte of composers.

snyprrr · October 05, 2012, 12:52:04 PM

Quote from: Brian on October 05, 2012, 11:42:19 AM
MusicWeb assigned me an MDG CD of Francaix wind quintets and, like everything Francaix wrote, it's a frothy treat. Jean Francaix was the pumpkin spice latte of composers.

I especially like the fruity up-and-down of the first movement of No.1, sounds very much like a cartoon!

val · October 06, 2012, 01:03:34 AM

I never liked much Schönberg's Quintet until I heard the version of the New York Woodwind Quintet. It is very beautiful. In fact all the CD is essential, with the more traditional but superb 2nd Chamber Symphony and "Die glückliche Hand"

Luke · October 06, 2012, 03:12:19 AM

The Nielsen stands out for me, but the Pavel Haas Quintet is an absolute marvel (comparable in many ways to Janacek's wind sextet Mladi)

Karl Henning · October 06, 2012, 05:32:40 AM

Quote from: val on October 06, 2012, 01:03:34 AM
I never liked much Schönberg's Quintet until I heard the version of the New York Woodwind Quintet. It is very beautiful.

Yes, rockin'!

snyprrr · October 06, 2012, 07:34:08 AM

Quote from: Luke on October 06, 2012, 03:12:19 AM
The Nielsen stands out for me, but the Pavel Haas Quintet is an absolute marvel (comparable in many ways to Janacek's wind sextet Mladi)

There's one to try!

Quote from: James on October 05, 2012, 04:14:27 PM
Speaking of which .. on the recording front, got this new release on my Wish List ..

Stockhausen: Zeitmasze op.5 (14:12)
Schoenberg: Wind Quintet op.26 (35:06)

[asin]B008PEB1CY[/asin]
Samples

That is tempting.

I am hoping my WWQ cache arrives here shortly...

Surely this Topic needs more participation.

snyprrr · October 08, 2012, 07:44:51 AM

I was looking through some repertoire. As far as cds go, the Nielsen/Hindemith/Barber/Ligeti connection is very strong. Haas & Eisler figure together a lot, and Farkas popped up a bit.

I was also looking into Danzi & Reicha, but, for me, the samples I heard just sounded like so much afternoon music. I'd still like to know what those of you with the CPO box of Reicha think are the standouts (Op.88/2 appears to be his 'Hit', as that one shows up a lot, along with the one in 'g minor').

snyprrr · October 16, 2012, 07:58:55 PM

Which Nielsen do you all like? I've only heard the Ensemble Wien-Berlin, but, this group may be my special favorite.

snyprrr · October 17, 2012, 10:20:35 AM

Quote from: snyprrr on October 08, 2012, 07:44:51 AM
I was also looking into Danzi & Reicha, but, for me, the samples I heard just sounded like so much afternoon music. I'd still like to know what those of you with the CPO box of Reicha think are the standouts (Op.88/2 appears to be his 'Hit', as that one shows up a lot, along with the one in 'g minor').

I very nearly overdosed on samples of Danzi & Reicha! As far as I can tell, the ones recorded outside of the cycles available are the most popular: Op.56/1 in Bb for Danzi, and Op.88/2 in Eb for Reicha. There are also a couple of 'g minor's in there, but, as I haaave learned (Gurn!!

), a minor key in the Classical Era means nothing in terms of actual minor key hitting your ears, haha!! I can't possibly see myself submitting to listening to their combined total output in this area. Oy!

I am currently listening to the Haydn Divertimento, Hob. II/46 played by the Ens. Wien-Berlin. It's a sunny, nice Haydnesque day after all! Up next is the Danzi Op.56/1 (here on the Sony cd it must be erroneously written as '51/1', but I'm pretty sure there is no Danzi Op.51).

For me, I NEED the modern sensibility for my wind music, otherwise it all just seems to sound like the Haydn,... wait, the Haydn passed and now I was listening to the Danzi but still thinking it was Haydn, haha,... so much for serialism all sounding the same, haha!! Yea, the Modern Era helps me distinguish between Composers,... perhaps I just go for the Era that produced the most amount of Willful Individualists? Hindemith's WWQ sounds nothing like the Schoenberg, which sound nothing like the Barber. Forgive me to the Classical Era people for being such a philistine.

jochanaan · October 17, 2012, 10:29:28 AM

Some of my favorites are Irving Fine's Partita (which I've played

), Barber's Summer Music, and the Hovhaness quintet. Of the two "originators" of this medium, I find the Reicha quintets to be more imaginative and progressive, the Danzi to be more "traditional."

Karl Henning · October 17, 2012, 10:33:28 AM

Quote from: snyprrr on October 16, 2012, 07:58:55 PM
Which Nielsen do you all like? I've only heard the Ensemble Wien-Berlin, but, this group may be my special favorite.

Both the recordings I have are good, but perhaps the Diamant Ensemblet has the advantage over the Scandinavian Chamber Players.

escher · October 18, 2012, 07:10:26 AM

try also with the alec wilder quintets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiOKwKPQh7M

Klaze · October 18, 2012, 07:39:40 AM

Quote from: escher on October 18, 2012, 07:10:26 AM
try also with the alec wilder quintets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiOKwKPQh7M

Hi Escher, how about the Wind Quintet of your namesake, (Rudolf) Escher ?

Performed below by the Danzi Quintet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9sjAJk8vVU

I think it's a very nice work.

From Escher's Wikipedia entry, quoting musicologist Leo Samama:

Quote'Together with the Sinfonia per dieci strumenti (1973/75), the Flute sonata (1976/79) and the Trio for clarinet, viola and piano (1978/79), the Wind Quintet belongs to the works of a master - one of the few our country has known -, of an artist that has developed such a personal language, a personal grammar, a personal sound, that every statement about French or German influences, about old or new music, about place and time are futile and meaningless.'