Musical works

Born in Italy in 1746 and passing away in Paris in 1825, Giuseppe Cambini is one of the earliest composers to have written for the wind quintet in the history of music. Like his compatriots Franz Danzi (1763-1826) and Anton Reicha (1770-1836), the Italian composer and cellist became fascinated by this new musical ensemble, which was growing increasingly popular in the 18th century. Cambini composed three wind quintets, the most renowned of which, the one in D minor, is presented this evening. Structured in three movements, this work follows the formal patterns of the time: an Allegro first movement, a Larghetto second movement, and a Presto third movement in Rondo form to conclude. What sets Cambini's writing apart is his ability to blend the distinct timbres of the five instruments, skillfully intertwining musical phrases to create a continuous flow, allowing the wind quintet to shine with brilliance.