Notes and Editorial Reviews
For a wind quintet to be successful, each player must be a virtuoso soloist who also is capable of being an ensemble player. The musicians in this quintet fill that bill admirably. On this CD they play a program of 20th century favorites for five wind players--six in the case of the Janácek. The compositions are largely happy works. The opening "March" of the Hindemith is boisterous and upbeat, followed by four movements largely in the same vein. The Barber is more ruminative and romantic, along the lines of the composer's better known works, and the Larsson, except for a somewhat chilly third movement, paints a picture of the sunnier side of Scandinavia. The Janácek, written near the end of his life, is
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autobiographical, a portrait of the composer's own youth which he had recaptured in an infatuation with a younger woman. The Michael Thompson Woodwind Quintet captures every nuance in these compositions in performances that are virtually free of fault. The sound is more distant than usual for a recording of a small group, but it's exceptionally crisp and clear without any irritating clacking of keys, an effect that often mars more close-up recordings of winds.
--Rad Bennett, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Kleine Kammermusik for Wind Quintet, Op. 24 no 2 by Paul Hindemith
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1922; Germany
Date of Recording: 11/1995
Venue: St. Paul's Church, Rusthall, Kent, UK
Length: 13 Minutes 7 Secs.
2.
Summer Music, Op. 31 by Samuel Barber
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
Date of Recording: 11/1995
Venue: St. Paul's Church, Rusthall, Kent, UK
Length: 11 Minutes 44 Secs.
3.
Quattro tempi, Op. 55 by Lars-Erik Larsson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1968; Sweden
Date of Recording: 11/1995
Venue: St. Paul's Church, Rusthall, Kent, UK
Length: 14 Minutes 15 Secs.
4.
Youth by Leos Janácek
Performer:
Michael Harris (Bass Clarinet)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1924; Brno, Czech Republic
Date of Recording: 11/28/1995
Venue: St. Paul's Church, Rusthall, Kent, UK
Length: 17 Minutes 19 Secs.
Sound Samples
Kleine Kammermusik, Op. 24, No. 2: I. Lustig: Massig schnelle Viertel
Kleine Kammermusik, Op. 24, No. 2: II. Walzer: Durchweg sehr leise
Kleine Kammermusik, Op. 24, No. 2: III. Ruhig und einfach. Achtel
Kleine Kammermusik, Op. 24, No. 2: IV. Schnelle Viertel
Kleine Kammermusik, Op. 24, No. 2: V. Sehr lebhaft
4 Tempi, Op. 55: I. Tranquillo
4 Tempi, Op. 55: II. Agitato
4 Tempi, Op. 55: III. Sostenuto
4 Tempi, Op. 55: IV. (attacca) Giocoso
Mladi (Youth), JW VII/10: I. Allegro
Mladi (Youth), JW VII/10: II. Andante sostenuto
Mladi (Youth), JW VII/10: III. Vivace
Mladi (Youth), JW VII/10: IV. Allegro animato
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