Harmoniemusik

Vincent Gambaro: Wind Quartets Consortium Classicum

2012-01-09T12:05:00.004Z

Vincent (Vincenzo) Gambaro (17??-18??):
Quatuor Concertant No.1 in E Flat Major
Quatuor Concertant No.2 in C Minor
Quatuor Concertant No.3 in F Major
Quatuor Concertant in E Flat Major (d'après compositions de Ludwig van Beethoven)

Consortium Classicum:
Sarah Willis (French Horn), Dieter Klöcker (Clarinet), Kornelia Brandkamp (Flute), Karl-Otto Hartmann (Bassoon)

"Wind bands proliferated throughout early 19th-century Europe, providing charming if largely undemanding light entertainment in noble households. These four of Gambaro’s 16 quartets, fluently played and very subtly balanced, are delightfully unpretentious yet with moments of witty and delightful invention."
George Pratt (BBC Music Magazine)

This CD appeared over a decade ago and stocks seem to be running very low now.

Shostakovich, Brumel, Ockeghem, ter Doest Calefax Reed Quintet

2011-11-29T15:49:00.005Z

Ton ter Doest - Circusmuziek
Antoine Brumel - Motets "Languente Miseris" and "Nato Canunt Omnia"
Dmitry Shostakovich - Preludes & Fugues for piano Op. 87 No. 1 in C major, No. 4 in E minor, No. 7 in A major and No. 8 in F sharp minor
Johannes Ockeghem - Missa "Fors seulement" for 5 voices (Kyrie, Gloria & Credo only)

Calefax Reed Quintet:
Ivar Berix - Clarinet
Raaf Hekkema - Alto Sax
Lucas van Helsdingen - Alto and Soprano Sax, Bass Clarinet
Alban Wesly - Bassoon
Eduard Wesly - English Horn, Oboe

Out of print

Lessel, Sextets - Consortium Classicum

2011-08-27T22:44:00.000+01:00

Franciszek Lessel (c.1780-1838)

Sextets for 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns & Double Bass
(Wind Sextets nos. 1, 3 and 4, all in E flat major)

Consortium Classicum

2007

This CD looks like it's about to go out of print. Better get it soon if you want it.

Said to have been Haydn's favourite pupil Franciszek Lessel has so far evaded a revival of his music. Dieter Klöcker, the director of Consortium Classicum, has assembled scores of the Wind Sextets from the manuscript parts that survive in the Vienna Conservatoire library.

The prospect of three wind sextets for two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns and double bass by an unknown composer whose productive life reached almost forty years into the nineteenth century may not fill you with transports of delight. In fact this is fresh and airy music. Lessel is quite startling at the start of Sextet No. 4 with the strangest dissonant grumble before sweeping the listener up into a typically effervescent Mozartean Allegro molto. This is succeeded by five movements which include a nonchalant Siciliano, a flighty Polonois and a grave Adagio. The shorter, three movement Sextet No. 3 begins with a heartbeat-pulsed Largo which serves as a prelude to a chasseur Allegro Vivace, a placid Adagio, a very brief Menuetto and a final cheery Rondo. By now we are no longer surprised by the bipartite structure of the first movement of the Sextet No. 1 with its serious introduction and bubblingly spirited Marriage of Figaro-style, Allegro con Spirito. It's all charming stuff with an elegantly pointed Menuetto and a winged Rondo Vivace complete with hunting-horn graces.

Pleasing additions to the harmoniemusik repertoire to join Consortium Classicum’s previous efforts for MDG in Süßmayr, Hummel, Weber and Cartellieri.

Rob Barnett (musicweb-international.com)

Beethoven & Triebensee, Oboe Trios Zupnik, Greenbank & Starr

2011-02-11T20:42:00.002Z

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Variations for 2 oboes & English horn in C major on Mozart's "Là ci darem la mano" WoO 28

Josef Triebensee (1772-1846)
Trio for 2 oboes & cor anglais in B flat major
Trio for 2 oboes & cor anglais in C major
Trio for 2 oboes & cor anglais in F major
Variations for wind ensemble on a theme from Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony (No. 94)

Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio for 2 oboes & English horn in C major, Op. 87

Marilyn Zupnik (Oboe), Kathryn Greenbank (Oboe), Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia (English Horn)

1996/2007 (out of print)

The [ASV Quicksilva] collection is of music for a trio of two oboes and cor anglais and it includes a real novelty — a work actually written for these three unlikely instruments by Beethoven. The Trio, Op. 87, in spite of its opus number, dates from 1794 and is youthfully spontaneous and well crafted, with the Scherzo and Finale particularly infectious.

Equally diverting is Beethoven's set of variations on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano" for the same combination. The rest of the disc is made up of three charming, lightweight trios by Beethoven's Bohemian contemporary, Joseph Triebensee, which show an even greater feeling for instrumental colour, especially in the nicely blended slow movements. The three soloists here, Marilyn Zupnik, Kathryn Greenbank and Elizabeth Starr, play freshly and match timbres nicely. Taken a work at a time this well-recorded disc is very agreeable.

(Gramophone, 1997)

Every great artist, I’m sure, leaves a surprise or two for posterity. So what could be more unexpected than, not one, but two works by Beethoven scored for the unlikely combination of two oboes and an English horn? Both are products of Beethoven’s early years in Vienna, variously dated between 1794 and 1796, making them roughly contemporaneous with the op. 1 piano sonatas. Neither was published at the time. Beethoven held out the trio, and B&H rejected the Variations when it was offered to them (Oops!). Both represent Beethoven’s lighter side, amiable but finely wrought. The Trio in C, op. 87, was eventually published in 1806, hence the late opus number.

There are two Triebensee surprises. First is that someone bothered to dig his original works out of the archives. Joseph Triebensee (1772–1846), oboist and conductor, was one of the innumerable Bohemian musicians who gravitated toward Vienna during the Classical period. He was also a prolific composer, with 12 comic operas and various orchestral and instrumental works to his credit, but he is remembered today, if at all (along with his father-in-law, Johann Wendt), for making arrangements for winds of Mozart’s operas. (Triebensee has a 10-line entry in the Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia, but he is not mentioned in either the Oxford Dictionary or the Harvard Biographical Dictionary.) Among his works were four trios for oboes and English horn, three of which are included in this compilation. They employ a typically Classical four-movement structure and show off the composer’s lyrical bent. Due to his performing experience, no doubt, Triebensee’s writing for double reeds is particularly apt. Incidentally, Triebensee’s B flat Trio is timed at 10:20, exactly the same duration as the first of the four movements of Beethoven’s Trio. The second Triebensee “Surprise” is the theme of his Variations, taken from Haydn’s G-Major Symphony, No. 94, subtitled—you guessed it!

Unless I miss my own guess, the “someone” who dusted off the Triebensee trios was Marilyn Zupnik, who wrote the notes for the booklet. Zupnik, among things, has been a member of the Israel Philharmonic and the Minnesota Orchestra. Kathryn Greenbank is principal oboe of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia plays English horn for the Philadelphia Orchestra. All are in top form in this delightful program, which was originally recorded in 1996 and was formerly available on the ASV label. Be pleasantly surprised.

(Fanfare, 2007)

Brod, Wind Quintets op. 2 Albert Schweitzer Quintett

2010-08-01T20:15:00.001+01:00

Henri Brod (1801-1838)
Wind Quintets op. 2

Albert Schweitzer Quintett

Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn & basson in E flat major, Op. 2/1
Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn & basson in F major, Op. 2/2
Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn & basson in C major, Op. 2/3

Out of print

Piazzolla, Estaciones Porteñas, etc Ma’alot Quintet

2010-07-18T19:01:00.003+01:00

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Chamber music arranged for wind quintet

Estaciones Porteñas (1965-70)
Tango Ballet (1956)
Histoire du Tango (1986)
Four for Tango (1987) (*)

Ma’alot Quintet:
Stephanie Winker (flute), Christian Wetzel (oboe), Ulf-Guido Schäfer (clarinet), Volker Grewel (horn), Volker Tessmann (bassoon)

All arrangements by Ulf-Guido Schäfer [except (*) by Volker Grewel]

Another fine CD that looks like it's on the brink of going out of print!

20th century woodwind & reed musictaster collection 2

2010-04-11T01:17:00.005+01:00

Eastern Winds - Anthony Iannaccone - Parodies for Woodwind Quintet: Rag

Violetas Visinskas, Liutauras Vebra, lgirdas Doveika, Mindaugas Gecevicius & Jonas Lesys - Arvydas Malcys - Supper for Five

Belgian Wind Quintet - Claude Arrieu - Wind Quintet in C

The University of Georgia Woodwind Quartet - Elliott Carter - Fantasy (from Eight Etudes and a Fantasy)

Phoebus Quintett - Ferenc Farkas - Lavottiana for Woodwind Quintet: Lassú verbunk és figura

Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Wind Quintet - Henning Wellejus - Quintet

Deutsches Saxophon-Ensemble - Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther (arr. by Arthur Frackenpohl)

Equinox Chamber Players - John Lampkin - Migrations: Salmon

Dorian Wind Quintet - Lee Hoiby - Diversions for Wind Quintet: Promenade

The Chicago Chamber Musicians - Paul Pierné - Bucolique variée

Royal Wind Quintet Stockholm - Thierry Escaich - Trois instants fugitifs: I. Prestissimo con fuoco

Imani Winds - Wayne Shorter - Terra Incognita

Total playing time 1:19:11

The first taster collection can be found here:
http://harmoniemusik.blogspot.com/2009/07/20th-century-woodwind-reed-music-taster.html

Bohemian Serenade (Smetana, Triebensee, Krommer) - Bläsersolisten der Deutschen Kammerphilharmonie

2010-02-06T21:05:00.003Z

Böhmische Serenade

Bläsersolisten der Deutschen Kammerphilharmonie
Silke Avenhaus, piano

Bedrich Smetana: Harmoniemusik from "The Bartered Bride" arranged by Andreas N. Tarkmann
Seht am Strauch die Knospen springen (opening chorus)
Mit der Mutter sank zu Grabe (duet)
Furiant
Mein lieber Schatz, nun aufgepaßt (duet)
Überleg Dir's Marie, bedenk es dir (sextet)
Polka
Weiß ich doch eine, die hat Dukaten (duet)
Dance of the Comedians

Joseph Triebensee: Concertino in E flat for piano and winds
Adagio
Menuetto
Andante con variazione
Menuetto: Allegretto
Rondo

Franz Krommer: Wind Octet/Partita in F, op. 57
Allegro vivace
Minuetto: Presto
Adagio
Alla Polacca

Recorded in 2001
CD out of print

Wind Trios (Haydn, Triebensee, Went, Beethoven, Wranitzky) - Novak Trio

2010-01-14T14:41:00.003Z

Wind Trios: Haydn, Triebensee, Went, Beethoven, Wranitzky
(Treasures from the Český Krumlov Castle)

Novák Trio:
Gabriela Krčková (oboe), Štěpán Koutník (clarinet), Vladimír Lejčko (bassoon)

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Divertimento in G (originally for viola, violin and cello)

Josef Triebensee (1772-1846)
Trio in F

Jan/Johann Nepomuk Went (1745-1801)
Trio in B flat

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Trio in C, Op. 87

Anton Vranický/Wranitzky (1761-1820)
Trio in C

Except for Haydn's divertimento, all trios were originally written for two oboes and English horn and are being played here on oboe, clarinet and bassoon in arrangements by Vladimir Lejčko.

Recorded in 1995
CD out of print

Divertimento 'Chorale St. Antoni' (Haydn, Reicha, Danzi, Lickl) - Stuttgarter Bläserquintett

2010-01-14T00:05:00.001Z

Joseph Haydn
Divertimento (Feldparthie) for 2 oboes, 2 horns, 3 bassoons & serpent* in B flat major ("Chorale St. Antoni"), H. II/46
Allegro con spirito 3:43
Chorale St. Antoni 2:42
Menuetto & Trio 2:07
Rondo. Allegretto 1:56

Anton Reicha
Woodwind Quintet in E flat major, Op. 88/2
Lento. Allegro moderato 5:27
Scherzo: Allegro 2:44
Andante grazioso 3:14
Finale: Allegro molto 2:48

Franz Danzi
Quintet for winds No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 56/1
Allegretto 5:23
Andante con moto 3:39
Menuetto: Allegretto 2:09
Allegro 2:25

Johann Georg Lickl
Quintetto Concertante for winds in F major
Allegro 5:59
Menuetto 4:25
Adagio 6:14
Polacca 3:55

Stuttgarter Bläserquintett:
Willy Freivogel - Flöte, Sigurd Michael - Oboe, Rainer Schumacher - Klarinette, Friedhelm Pütz – Horn, Hermann Herder- Fagott

First published by Pilz in 1989; this CD is from 1991 and out of print.

* Yes, that's more instruments than one would expect to be played by a quintet. Don't ask me! All I can say is that the Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet and the Quintett Wien achieve the same miraculous feat.

And if you think that "chorale" theme sounds somehow familiar but can't quite place it, check here.

Elsewhere in the blogosphere

2010-01-13T00:01:00.009Z

This is the same listing as the blogroll on the right, placed here only so that the entries can be found with the blog search function (updated 23 September 2011).

The Best of The New York Woodwind Quintet (Vol. 2)

2009-12-02T09:27:00.005Z

The New York Woodwind Quintet:
Samuel Baron, Jerome Roth, David Glazer, John Barrows, and
Arthur Weisberg
with Bernard Garfield, Ronald Roseman, Ralph Froelich

Darius Milhaud - La Cheminée du Roi René, suite for wind quintet
Jacques Ibert - Trois pièces brèves, for wind quintet
Irving Fine - Partita for Wind Quintet
Alec Wilder - Up Tempo from Quintet for woodwinds No. 1
David van Vactor - Scherzo
Heitor Villa-Lobos - Quinteto em forme de choros, A. 231
Heitor Villa-Lobos - Duette for flute & bassoon (Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6, A. 392)
Paul Hindemith - Kleine Kammermusik, for wind quintet, Op. 24/2

The recordings date from 1958-1964.

This CD is OOP.

Fagottissimo - Gürzenich Fagottquintett

2009-10-27T11:32:00.003Z

Some more light entertainment ...

FAGOTTISSIMO - Virtuose Raritäten für Fagotte

Gürzenich Fagottquintett:
Rainer Schottstädt, Jörg Steinbrecher, Klaus Lohrer, Heino Wiechmann, Hans-Joachim Leetz
& Elisabeth Balmas, violin

Julius Fucik (arr. John Iskra): Thunder and Blazes
Alan Ridout: Pigs
Julius Weissenborn: Polonaise - Polka - Türkischer Marsch
Georg ter Voert: Polka in Swing
Matyas Seiber (arr. Christian Kuntze): Foxtrott
Peter Schickele (a.k.a. P. D. Q. Bach): Last Tango in Bayreuth
Vittorio Monti (arr. A. Kulling/R. Schottstädt): Csárdás
Gordon Jacob: Prelude, Fugue & Scherzo
Eugene Bozza: Divertissements für 3 Fagotte
Peter Jansen: Scherzo, Nocturno und Burlesca
Serge Prokofiew: Humoristisches Scherzo Op. 12/9
Charles Gounod (arr. G. W. Latzenhise): Marionettenmarsch
Kurt Noack (arr. Rainer Schottstädt): Heinzelmännchens Wachtparade

1990 (OOP)

Lickl, Wind Music - Calamus Ensemble

2009-09-17T11:05:00.002+01:00

Johann Georg Lickl (1769-1843)

Sextet for 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns and 2 Bassoons in E flat major, Op. 11, No.1
Quintet for 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns and Bassoon in E flat major, Op. 21
Cassatione for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon in E flat major
Sextet for 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns and 2 Bassoons in E flat major, Op. 11, No.2

The Calamus Ensemble:
Washington Barella, oboe
Wolfgang Meyer, clarinet
Benjamin Dieltjens, clarinet
Clara-Christine Hohorst, horn
Yvonne Haas, horn
Rainer Schottstädt, bassoon
Ruth Krabbe, bassoon

It seems the CD is on the brink of going out of print. Better get it now if you like the music.

Dvorak, Chamber music arranged for wind quintet - Ma'alot Quintet

2009-08-17T23:44:00.003+01:00

Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904)

Four Slavonic Dances (1878/1886)
Quartet for Strings in F major, Op. 96/B 179 "American" (1893)
Bagatelles for 2 Violins, Cello and Harmonium, Op. 47/B 79 (1878)

All works arranged for wind quintet by Ulf-Guido Schäfer or Volker Grewel

Ma'alot Quintet
Stephanie Winker - Flute
Christian Wetzel - Oboe
Ulf-Guido Schäfer - Clarinet
Volker Grewel - Horn
Volker Tessmann - Bassoon
(This German quintet takes its name from the common name of psalms 120-134, the "Psalms of Ascent".)

Except for an angry (and, with respect to the misrepresentations of the artists' statements in the booklet, pretty annoying) review in Fanfare this recording has had a rather enthusiastic welcome by the critics. I think that especially the arrangement of the "American" quartet, which is so frowned upon by the Fanfare critic, works very well.

Woodwind Treasures - Westwood Wind Quintet

2009-08-07T23:36:00.003+01:00

The Westwood Wind Quintet (of Los Angeles) was founded in 1959 and performed actively for close to 40 years. This CD is made from recordings in 1971 and 1981.

Woodwind Treasures

Westwood Wind Quintet
John Barcellona (Flute 1981), Gretel Shanley (Flute 1971), David Atkins (Clarinet 1971 & 1981), Peter Christ (Oboe 1971 & 1981), Robert Henderson (French Horn 1971), Calvin Smith (French Horn 1981), Kay Brightman (Bassoon 1971), Kenneth Meyer (Bassoon 1981)

August Klughardt (1847-1902)
Wind Quintet in C, Op. 79 (1901)

Luciano Berio (1925-2003)
Opus Number Zoo, for speaker & wind quintet (1951/1970)

George Heussenstamm (b.1926)
Seven Etudes, for oboe, clarinet & bassoon, Op. 77 (1964)

Boris Pillin (b.1940)
Scherzo for Wind Quartet

Robert Linn (1925-1999)
Quintet for Winds (1963)

Herman Stein (1915-2007)
Sour Suite, for wind quintet (1968)

First recordings of all works except the quintet by August Klughardt

Lachner, Octet & Nonet - Consortium Classicum

2009-07-29T18:50:00.001+01:00

Franz Lachner (1803-1890)

Nonet in F major (1875)
for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass
I. Andante. Allegro moderato
II. Menuetto (Allegro moderato)
III. Adagio
IV. Finale (Allegro ma non troppo)

Octet in B flat major, op. 156 (published in 1850)
for flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 2 bassoons (with double bass ad lib.)
I. Allegro moderato
II. Adagio
III. Scherzo (Allegro assai)
IV. Finale (Allegro ma non troppo)

Consortium Classicum
Dieter Klöcker

Recorded in 1974
Published on CD in 2002
Out of print

20th century woodwind & reed music taster collection

2009-07-25T19:58:00.004+01:00

A bagful of short(-ish) compositions and arrangements for woodwind and reed instruments by 20th century composers

Contents:
Amstel Saxophone Quartet - Arvo Pärt - Fratres
Aurelia Saxophone Quartet - George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Borealis Wind Quintet - George Gershwin - Bess You Is My Woman Now
Dorian Wind Quintet - Lalo Schifrin - La Nouvelle Orleans
East Winds - Malcolm Arnold - Allegro con brio (Shanties for Wind Quintet)
Leta Miller et al - Henry Cowell - Heroic Dance
Quinteto de Vientos Argos - Gerardo Gandini - Double para quinteto de vientos
Reykjavik Wind Quintet - Atli Petersen - Blasarkvintett (Wind Quintet)
Scandinavian Wind Quintet - Per Norgard - Whirl's World
Swedish Wind Ensemble - Hugo Alfvén - Vallflickans dans (from Bergakungen Suite)
The Caliban Quartet - Duke Ellington - Caravan
The Chicago Chamber Musicians - Darius Milhaud - Pastorale

Total playing time 1:19:30

Perhaps I should mention that ....

There was a young fellow called Max
Who kept all his music as Flacs.
He lacked any empathy,
For the old MP3 ...
That's why he missed many good tracks.

Cambini & Briccialdi, Wind Quintets. Avalon Wind Quintet

2009-06-26T15:23:00.004+01:00

Giulio Briccialdi (1818-1881)
Wind Quintet in D major, Op. 124

Giuseppe Maria Cambini (1746-1825)
Wind Quintet No. 1 in B major
Wind Quintet No. 2 in D minor
Wind Quintet No. 3 in F major

Avalon Wind Quintet
Daniel Lampert, flute
Stefan Schilli, oboe
Stefan Zimmer, clarinet
Christian Lampert, French horn
Bernhard Straub, bassoon

Penguin Guide 2002 Rosette Recommendation

Druschetzky, Six Partitas for Wind Octet. I Fiati Italiani

2009-06-06T11:29:00.000+01:00

Georg Druschetzky / Jiří Družecký
(1745-1819)

Sei partite per otto fiati (1784)

I Fiati Italiani:
oboi - Maurizio Colasanti, C. di Bucchianico
clarinetti - Antonello Pellegrini, R. Masci
corni - Marcello Martella, D. di Martile
fagotti - Alfonso Patriarca, D. Luciani

First recordings

Mondo Musica, 2000 (OOP)

Harmonie Music - Ottetto Amsterdam

2009-04-29T02:45:00.000+01:00

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
Parthia in E flat major for nine wind instruments (1803)
1. Allegro con spirito
2. Andante piu tosto allegretto
3. Vivace assai

Joseph Myslivecek (1737-1781)
Parthia in E flat major for eight wind instruments and double bass (1770)
4. Allegro maestoso
5. Larghetto un poco sostenuto
6. Menuetto alternativo I, II, III - coda

Georg Druschetzky (1745-1819)
Variazioni for eight wind instruments and double bass (1784)
7. Allegro

Frantisek Kramar (Franz Krommer) (1759-1831)
Harmonie in F major for nine wind instruments (c. 1810)
8. Allegro vivace
9. Andante allegretto
10. Menuetto allegretto - trio - menuetto da capo
11. Allegro

Paul van der Linden, Vincent van Ballegooyen - oboe
Joost Hekel, Jochen Seggelke - clarinetto
Teunis van der Zwart, Franz Josef Pickl - horn
Eckhard Lenzing, Thomas Kiefer - bassoon
Jürgen Eppelsheim - double bassoon
Jacques van der Meer - double bass

Recorded 1993

This CD is out of print but copies may still be available
directly from the artists.

Works by Paul Juon & Hans Huber. Schweizer Bläserquintett

2009-04-07T14:27:00.005+01:00

Paul Juon (1872-1940)
Arabesken. Trio for oboe, clarinet & bassoon, Op. 73 (1941)
Wind quintet in B major, Op. 84 (1930)

Hans Huber (1852-1921)
Sextet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano in B major (1898)

Schweizer Bläserquintett
with Michiko Otaki, piano

Recorded October 1996

This CD is out of print.

The sheet music for Huber's sextet is freely available from here.

Myslivecek, Three Wind Octets; Haydn, Partita. Albert Schweitzer Oktett

2009-03-20T14:54:00.012Z

Josef Mysliveček (1737-1781)

Three Wind Octets (c.1770)

Octet for winds, No 1 in E flat major
1. Allegro maestoso
2. Larghetto un poco sostenuto
3. Tempo di menuetto

Octet for winds No. 2 in E flat major
4. Allegro spiritoso
5. Largo, sotto voce
6. Rondo. Allegretto

Octet (Parthia) for winds No. 3 in B flat major
7. Allegro
8. Larghetto un poco di moto
9. Presto

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Harmonie (Partita, Parthia, Octet) Hob. II: F7 (c.1802)
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons & 2 horns in F major
10. Allegro moderato
11. Andante con variazioni
12. Menuetto. Allegretto
13. Finale. Allegro

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians suggests
this work is "probably by P. Wranitzky" but the author of
the liner notes, Gerhard Pätzig, disagrees with this attribution.

Albert Schweitzer Oktett

Recorded 8-11 November 1994

This CD is out of print.

Ravel & Debussy - Calefax Reed Quintet

2009-02-20T12:40:00.009Z

Claude Debussy

Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113
Arranged by Raaf Hekkema

Six épigraphes antiques
Arranged by Eduard Wesly

Couperin - Ravel
Forlane
Arranged by Alban Wesly

Maurice Ravel

Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano
Arranged by Raaf Hekkema

Calefax Reed Quintet
Ivar Berix, clarinet
Raaf Hekkema, saxophone
Jelte Althuis, bass clarinet
Alban Wesly, bassoon
Eduard Wesly, oboe

Recorded in June 1995

An unusual combination of instruments, producing a beautiful sound. I recommend to check out the group's wonderful interpretation of Jean-Philippe Rameau's "Nouvelles Suites" (see right, Elsewhere in the blogosphere) and the samples on their own website (http://www.calefax.nl/geluidsfragmenten_en.asp).

Edward Elgar, Complete Music for Wind Quintet. Athena Ensemble

2009-02-05T14:26:00.016Z

Reposted here with the generous permission of scotlynn:

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Complete Music for Wind Quintet

Athena Ensemble:
Richard McNicol flute
Sebastian Bell flute
David Theodore oboe
Roger Fallows clarinet
Robert Jordan bassoon

Vol. 1

Harmony Music No.5 "The Mission"
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon
I The Mission
II Menuetto and Trio
III Noah's Ark
IV Finale

Five Intermezzi
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & basson (or cello)
No. 1 'Nancy'
No. 2 'Mrs and Miss Howell'
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5

Harmony Music No.1 ("Shed No.1")
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon

Adagio Cantabile "Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup"
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon

Andante con variazione "Evesham Andante"
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon

Vol. 2

Six Promenades
I Moderato e molto maestoso
II Moderato 'Madame Taussaud's'
III Presto
IV Andante 'Somniferous'
V Allegro molto
VI Allegro maestoso 'Hell and Tommy'

Harmony Music No.2 ("Shed No.2")
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon

Harmony Music No.4, "The Farm Yard" ("Shed No.4")
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon

Four Dances
I Menuetto
II Gavotte 'Alphonsa'
III Sarabande
IV Gigue

Harmony Music No.3 ("Shed No.3")
for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon
(fragment)

Recorded in St Augustine's Church, Kilburn, London, in 1978

Elgar’s music for wind quintet is unique in its scoring, which replaces the horn with a second flute. Written when Elgar was in his early twenties, these works bear no resemblance to the large-scale symphonies or massive oratorios. The composer called these miniatures “shed” music after the place in which they were rehearsed.

The booklet is freely available from the Chandos website as a PDF document:
http://www.chandos.net/pdf/CHAN 241-33.pdf

Original covers:

Martin Joseph Mengal, Complete Wind Quintets. Das Reicha'sche Quintett

2009-01-28T20:02:00.008Z

Martin Joseph Mengal (1784-1851)
Complete Wind Quintets

Das Reicha’sche Quintett

Recorded 2003
Published 2005

CD 1

Quintet after Haydn
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Andante
3. Minuetto: Allegretto
4. Finale: Allegro

Quintet after Mozart
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Adagio
3. Minuetto: Allegretto
4. Finale: Allegro

CD 2

Quintet after Beethoven
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Minuetto: Allegro
4. Finale: Allegro

Quintet after Rossini
1. Adagio
2. Allegro non troppo

Three of these quintets were published in 1824 by Ignaz Pleyel. They incorporate themes by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, respectively. The fourth one, however, probably predates this collection. The music cites Rossini's opera “The Barber of Seville”, which was first performed in 1816.

It appears that this CD set may be about to go out of print.

The Unbelievable Mozart - Consortium Classicum

2009-01-23T09:15:00.009Z

These are all chamber music works for winds or winds and strings that are somehow related to Mozart. They are (more or less) contemporary re-workings of Mozart's own compositions, works whose attribution to Mozart is likely but uncertain or reconstructions from fragments. Almost all pieces have been recorded here for the first time.

The CDs were originally published as ?Mozart! Vol. 1, 2, etc., and later re-issued as a boxed set under the title The Unbelievable Mozart.

Vol. 1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Octet in F Major, KV App. C 17.05 and B to 370a
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Adagio - Allegro (7:38)
2. Andante (8:45)
3. Minuetto (3:23)
4. Rondo (4:25)

Sextet (Parthia) in E flat major (KV deest)
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Allegro molto (5:19)
2. Adagio (6:19)
3. Minuetto (3:45)
4. Finale: Allegro (2:39)

Octet in E flat major, KV App. C 17.03
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
(possibly by Ignaz Joseph Pleyel, 1757 - 1831)
1. Adagio - Allegro (7:15)
2. Minuetto (3:48)
3. Romanze: Andante (6:01)
4. Minuetto (3:13)
5. Finale: Allegro assai (3:09)

Consortium Classicum

1994

Vol. 2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Octet (Divertimento) in E flat major, KV App. 224, C 17.07 and App. B to 370
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Adagio - 2. Allegro (8:33)
3. Menuetto (3:05)
4. Adagio (4:58)
5. Menuetto (3:21)
6. Thema mit Variationen: Adagio (3:48)
7. Rondo (3:17)

Theme and Variations on "Unser dummer Pöbel meint" in F major (KV deest)
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
(possibly by Jiri Druschetzky, 1745-1819)
Thema - Variationen 1-4 (6:11)

Octet (Partita) in B flat major (after KV 425)
for flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
(possibly by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, 1778-1837)
1. Adagio - 2. Allegro spiritoso (9:46)
3. Andante (8:40)
4. Menuetto (3:28)
5. Presto (6:56)

Consortium Classicum

1995

Vol. 3

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Octet (Divertimento) in E flat major (KV deest)
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Adagio - 2. Allegro molto (10:15)
3. Un poco adagio (3:47)
4. Menuetto (3:34)
5. Rondo: Allegro (3:11)

Sextet in B flat major, KV 439b (Prague version, pub. 1813)
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass
1. Allegro (3:24)
2. Menuetto 1 (4:31)
3. Adagio (4:12)
4. Menuetto 2 (4:21)
5. Rondo: Allegro assai (4:08)

Serenade (Parthia) in E flat major (KV deest)
for 2 Oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass
(possibly by Vinzenz Masek, 1755-1831)
1. Allegro moderato (6:52)
2. Poco adagio (3:59)
3. Menuetto (3:13)
4. Largo - 5. Romanza: Poco allegro (3:54)

Consortium Classicum

1996

Vol. 4

Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812)
Sextet (Partita) in E flat major, after KV 386c/563
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Allegro (5:40)
2. Andantino (6:09)
3. Menuetto (2:54)
4. Rondo: Allegro (3:41)

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) (more likely than Mozart)
Sextet in B flat major, KV C 17.09
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Allegro (3:18)
2. Adagio (2:21)
3. Menuetto (3:21)
4. Finale: Allegro (2:14)

Archduke Rudolph of Austria (1788-1831)
Octet in F major, after KV 497
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Adagio - Allegro molto (8:44)
2. Andante (11:21)
3. Rondo: Allegro (6:38)

Consortium Classicum

1998

Vol. 5

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Quintett in B flat major, after KV 458
for oboe, violin, 2 violas, and violoncello
(arranged by Joseph Rosinack, c.1750-1823)
1. Allegro vivace (7:55)
2. Menuetto (3:59)
3. Adagio (7:14)
4. Allegro assai (4:47)

Octet in E flat major, after KV 452
for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass
(arrangement from 1799)
1. Largo - Allegro moderato (10:32)
2. Larghetto (9:34)
3. Allegretto (5:37)

Anon.

Quartet in E flat major (KV deest)
for clarinet and string trio
1. Allegro (6:46)
2. Adagio (3:04)
3. Polonaise (5:07)
4. Rondo: Allegro (2:58)

Consortium Classicum

1998

Vol. 6

Johann Christian Stumpf (1740-1801)
Serenade in E flat major, after KV 614
for 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Allegro molto (6:52)
2. Andante (4:51)
3. Menuetto (4:01)
4. Allegro (3:43)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Fragments, KV Anh. 384
for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
(reconstructed by Eberhard Buschmann)
1: Marcia KV Anh. 384b (2:47)
2: Chaconne KV Anh. 384 B (5:07)
3: Menuet KV Anh. 384c (3:22)

Johann Simon Hermstedt (1778-1846)
Nonet in E flat major, after KV 428 (421b)
for flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons and double bass ad lib.
1. Allegro ma non troppo (7:07)
2. Andante con moto (6:30)
3. Menuetto (5:57)
4. Finale: Allegro vivace (5:20)

Consortium Classicum

1999

Vol. 7

Adagio in B flat major, KV 484a
for 2 clarinets and 3 bassett horns

Serenade in B flat major "Gran Partita", KV 361 (370a)
arr. for strings and winds by Franz Gleissner (1759-1818)
1. Largo - Molto allegro (9:19)
2. Menuetto (8:57)
3. Adagio (6:02)
4. Menuetto (5:02)
5. Romance: Adagio - Allegretto (7:03)
6. Tema con variazioni (10:21)
7. Finale: Molto allegro (3:20)

Consortium Classicum

2001

Boxed set available at an excellent price (from about 3-4 pounds/euros/dollars per CD).