Programs

La Ronde du Vent is a piece I composed in 2022, at the end of my studies in Montreal. The Master's degree in music and orchestration I had previously completed at the CNSMD in Lyon had immersed me in French contemporary music, which I often found too abstract and intellectual. In reaction, I decided to compose works that would inspire the audience to dance. For La Ronde du Vent, I began by choosing an unconventional time signature, allowing myself to be carried by the writing as the dance movement gradually took shape within me. I would like to warmly thank Pentaèdre for the premiere of this piece.

Ferdinand Chupin

Composer, conductor, and flutist, Paul Taffanel (1844-1908) is regarded as nothing less than the founding father of the French school of flute playing, having taught generations of flutists at the Paris Conservatory over a long and influential career. A distinguished composer, his Quintet in G minor stands as one of the cornerstones of the wind quintet repertoire. Taffanel’s writing showcases the full virtuosity, character, and range of timbres that the wind quintet can offer, solidifying the work as a true masterpiece of the wind ensemble canon.

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.

Austrian composer, conductor, pianist, and painter, Karl Pilss (1902-1979) remains a name deeply associated with wind instruments. His catalog includes over 85 works for wind instruments, along with a dozen orchestral pieces, numerous Lieder, and choral works. Pilss’s musical language is undoubtedly inspired by the romantic traditions of his predecessors Richard Strauss (1864-1949) and Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), while incorporating a touch of modernism. His Serenade for Winds, composed in four movements, enchants with its beautiful melodies and the virtuosity of its writing.