Though the most common configurations of piano chamber music include either strings or winds, fewer composers sought to combine the two. Fewer still wrote for larger ensembles when bringing together strings, winds, and piano in a single composition. This Fuga Libera disc unites the contributions of two intrepid composers -- both born of the same geographic region nearly a half-century apart -- and their sextets for piano, violin, viola, cello, horn, and clarinet. The sextet of
Ernö Dohnányi is written in the composer's usual rich texture, filled with memorable melodies and almost symphonic use of the ensemble. Premiered in 2000,
Penderecki's sextet explores many different textures and instrumental combinations within the ensemble, providing much rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic interest that is easily accessible to listeners. Performing are members of the
Kheops Ensemble. This instrumental combination is not without its problems; balance and intonation can be difficult beasts to master in this type of blended chamber music. For the most part,
Kheops does an admirable job of producing a nicely homogenous sound quality that still allows individual instruments to emerge from the texture during solo lines. Intonation between the winds and strings is quite good, though there is often some disagreement between the violin and viola when playing in unison or octaves. These worthwhile works are infrequently played and even less frequently recorded; a solid performance such as this is worth adding to an extended chamber music collection.