Caerdydd Glasurol: London Winds Cardiff Classical Lunchtime Recitals: London Winds - Woodwind Quintet PROGRAMME: BARBER, S: Summer Music, Op. 31 Summer Music was commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Detroit for the principals of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1956. The introduction, marked slow and indolent, evokes a bluesy atmosphere, specifically of the Gershwin variety, perhaps a reference to his Summertime. One also catches quick glimpses of the introduction to Stravinskys The Rite of Spring in the occasional harsh but playful dissonance. After the oboe spins a long, gentle theme, a more agitated section ensues, in which the individual instruments chatter among themselves in ascending solo flourishes. The overall form is palindromic, the same backwards as forwards, with the bluesy opening returning at the quintets close, mixed with short echoes of previous sections. BIZET: Jeux d'enfants Each of these little character pieces is distinctive in mood and spirit. Together they showcase Bizets great gifts for melody and harmony as he captures the joy and charm of childrens play. The set opens with a flourish with Trompette et tambour (Trumpet and drum), a perky march that evokes toy soldiers parading around the playroom. (Its a short distance from this march to the Childrens March in Carmen.) While the soldiers cavort, La Poupe (The doll) is lulled to sleep with a beguiling lullaby. Meanwhile La Toupie (The spinning top) swirls and whirls over a perpetual-motion base, while two children play house in the lyrical and affectionate duo Petit mari, petite femme (Little husband, little wife). The suite ends with a rousing galop, Le bal (The ball), an exuberant finale to a work filled with youthful wonder and delight. LIGETI, G: Six Bagatelles Ligetis Sechs Bagatellen (Six Bagatelles) was written in 1953 and is an arrangement Ligeti himself made based on his piano work, Musica Ricercata. These short yet powerful pieces display a variety of textures, tone colors, and musical effects. The first bagatelle, Allegro con spirito, is comprised of only four pitches, yet has impactful and memorable melodies. This is contrasted immediately by the second bagatelle, RubatoLamentoso. This movement begins with an eerie oboe solo, followed by sounds of anguish, achieved through dissonance and changes in texture throughout the ensemble. Presto ruvito, the fourth bagatelle, is written in memory of Bla Bartk, a fellow Hungarian composer who had a strong influence on Ligetis earlier works. The piece ends with a furious movement that ultimately dissolves into the last note. REICHA: Wind Quintet, Op.88 No.2 Anton Reicha (1770-1836) was a Czech-born naturalized French composer. A contemporary and lifelong friend of Beethoven, Reicha is now best remembered for his substantial early contribution to the wind quintet literature and his role as a teacher - his pupils included Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz. Reicha was also an accomplished theorist and wrote several treatises on various aspects of composition. Opus 88/2 is the most frequently heard of his quintets. A stunning combination of virtuoso players who also enjoy active solo careers, London Winds' performances are renowned for their technical brilliance, interpretative vision and joie de vivre. Founded in 1988 by British clarinettist Michael Collins, the group is now recognised as one of the world's most prominent chamber ensembles. The group is flexible in its make-up, augmenting its five original principal members with top international pianists and chamber musicians for certain repertoire. In particular, London Winds have enjoyed close associations with pianists Stephen Kovacevich, Howard Shelley, Pascal Rog, Barry Douglas and Boris Berezovsky. Regular guests at all the major British festivals, London Winds has performed at the BBC Proms, City of London, Edinburgh, Huddersfield, Bath, Aldeburgh, Edinburgh and Cheltenham festivals. UK appearances have also included performances at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, the Aldeburgh Festival, the Wigmore Hall and at the Bath International Festival. London Winds has made several recordings including Gyrgy Ligeti's complete wind music for Sony Classical as part of their Ligeti Edition, which won the Preis Der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and was nominated for a 1999 Grammy. The ensemble has also recorded the complete set of Richard Strauss Wind Symphonies for Hyperion, and Beethoven's Quintet for Piano & Winds and Spohr's Septet for Decca, with Pascal Rog and Chantal Juillet. London Winds' latest release is an ONYX recording of Mozart's Serenade No.10 ('Gran Partita') and Mozart's Serenade in C minor Maer rhaglen hon o gyngherddau hygyrch, anffurfiol yn rhoi proffil i lawer o gerddorion sefydledig ac adnabyddus, tra hefyd yn cefnogi artisitiad newydd o bob rhan o Gymru, y DU ac Ewrop. Bydd y datganiadau awr o hyd yma yn cael eu cynnal yng nghanol y ddinas yn Eglwys Dewi Sant, Cilgant San Andreas, ar ddydd Mawrth cyntaf o bob mis. Rydym mor falch o gael y cerddor ifanc uchelgeisiol a hynod dalentog hwn i agor ein Rhaglen Wanwyn. These short 1hr recitals will take place in the city centre at Eglwys Dewi Sant Church, St Andrews Crescent on the first Tuesday of every month. They are accessible, relaxing, informal and a perfect introduction for anyone new to the classical music scene or for those who are passionate enthusiasts of classical music. Either way, you can pop along and enjoy these during a lunchtime break, make an afternoon of it with friends or family, or simply come along yourself and enjoy! Doors Open 12:30pm