Four – music for wind quartet
Tuneful, exciting, peaceful, humorous, fascinating – music for woodwind ensemble can be all of these and this new album presents serious and lighter pieces of impressionist and post-Romantic inclination from the 20th century. It includes the premiere recording of the beautiful Suite en Quatre by pioneering French female composer Claude Arrieu.
FOUR is a project that represents the beginning of a longer journey for London Myriad. It is the first of an audio pair: one which champions existing music and one which carves out new repertoire for wind quartet. The second recording of the pair will be a commission of new works for the same combination and will be realised in the future as FOUR|2. The woodwind quartet in particular provides a unique opportunity for composers to closely explore the individual and very different characteristics, timbres and ranges of each of the four instruments, offering a diverse and evocative scope of compositional colours.
Here, from the beautifully textured quartets by Arrieu, Bozza and Françaix to the whimsical Travel Notes by Richard Rodney Bennett, the ensemble provide joyful and brilliantly performed pieces that will be appreciated by all.
London Myriad was formed in 2004 by a group of young musicians from the London colleges and fifteen years later its members all share a continued passion for chamber music. It was formed as a diversifying ensemble with a wind quartet at its core and over the years the group has performed a broad range of repertoire ranging from duos to nonets with programmes which have also included strings, harp, piano and narrator in recitals and concerts both in the UK and abroad.
Track Listing
-
Eugène Bozza (1905-1991):
- Trois pièces pour une musique de nuit - I. Andantino (1:35)
- Trois pièces pour une musique de nuit - II. Allegro vivo (2:36)
- Trois pièces pour une musique de nuit - III. Moderato (1:54) Frank Bridge (1879-1941):
- Divertimenti, H.189 - I. Prelude (4:28)
- Divertimenti, H.189 - II. Nocturne (5:12)
- Divertimenti, H.189 - III. Scherzetto (3:39)
- Divertimenti, H.189 - IV. Bagatelle (2:51) Jean Françaix (1912-1997):
- Quatuor - I. Allegro (2:57)
- Quatuor - II. Andante (1:44)
- Quatuor - III. Allegro molto (2:34)
- Quatuor - IV. Allegro vivo (2:55) Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012):
- Travel Notes 2 - I. In an air-balloon (1:27)
- Travel Notes 2 - II. In a helicopter (1:10)
- Travel Notes 2 - III. In a bath-chair (1:20)
- Travel Notes 2 - IV. Car-chase (1:10) Jacques Ibert (1890-1962):
- Deux Mouvements MCMXXII - I. Allant (3:57)
- Deux Mouvements MCMXXII - II. Assez vif et rythmé (2:46) Claude Arrieu (1903-1990):
- Suite en Quatre - I. Andante cantabile (3:26)
- Suite en Quatre - II. Scherzando (1:07)
- Suite en Quatre - III. Adagio (2:35)
- Suite en Quatre - IV. Presto (1:38)
Reviews
“The players are fabulous. The reactions of London Myriad are astonishing; the music, as a result, full of joie de vivre. Delicious, frothy and delightful music is performed impeccably by London Myriad.
” —Colin Clarke
“There is much to enjoy in this disc. The playing is of the highest standard and the ensemble consistently excellent; not to be underestimated given the contrasting tones of the four wind instruments.
” —Anthony Welliott
“This is a great disc of spectacular performances; Lon¬don Myriad has done a tremendous job here of programming: all of these pieces are classics in their own right.
” —Stephanie Boyd
“This is a crisp and capable ensemble… the playing is elegant and the ensemble finds admirable unity of pitch and articulation, no small task among such diverse voices, and they play the spirited small works with great verve. I really like this group.
” —The Whole Note
“When you have players as excellent as those of London Myriad, it [the wind quartet] can be a delightful medium. A captivating disc with an expertly chosen programme plus outstanding playing from this young and talented London-based ensemble.
” —Gwyn Parry-Jones
“Joyful and brilliant performances of music that includes beautifully textured quartets. Tuneful, exciting, peaceful, humorous, fascinating music for woodwind,
” —John Pitt
“Absolutely charming.The four in FOUR are formidable musicians, impeccable technicians. Music that is now lyrical, now outrageously humorous, and blessedly unpretentious. Out of this world!
” —Rafael de Acha
“This album is a delight. The music is sprightly and lively, even during the slower sections, and quite jolly. Entertaining throughout.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“I thoroughly enjoyed all six of these delightful and interesting works. All these pieces are mini-masterpieces, and each deserve our individual attention. The performances are convincing and always satisfy the listener’s interest… a pleasure from end to end.
” —John France
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