This 2003 Nimbus CD offers some of the most appealing music written for wind quintet in the twentieth century, presented in a balanced program that is decidedly on the light side.
Paul Hindemith's Little Chamber Music, Op. 24/2 (1922), is one of his wittier pieces, an early work with a neo-Classical flavor that is more like a divertimento than a serious essay. Though his counterpoint and harmony are at times complex,
Hindemith's marches and dances are quite jovial, if not slyly parodistic. Based on Musica ricercata, György Ligeti's Bagatelles (6) (1953) are short, contrasting pieces inspired by
Stravinsky and
Bartók, which display both clever rhythmic interplay and plaintive lyricism.
Carl Nielsen's Wind Quintet, Op. 43 (1922), is the most substantial work, and its longer duration allows for greater emotional complexity. Its quirky style anticipates
Nielsen's enigmatic Symphony No. 6, and listeners familiar with that work may notice many similar motives and melodies.
Hansgeorg Schmeiser on flute, Harald Hörth on oboe, Gerald Pachinger on clarinet, Martin Bramböck on horn, and Maximilian Feyertag on bassoon make up the ensemble styled as Quintett Wien, founded in 1994. Their ensemble playing is tight and precise, and their expressive range is fairly wide, even in this predominantly lighthearted music. Recorded in 2001, the sound is clear and natural.