Kalevi Aho: Wind Quintets Nos. 1 & 2

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Aho’s brilliance at problem-solving and technical composition can conceal a slight lack of material carbohydrate…But there is plenteous atmosphere and much colour (however narrow the palette)... — Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2018 More…

Release Date: 27th Jul 2018
Catalogue No: BIS2176
Label: BIS
Length: 54 minutes

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Aho: Quintet for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano

Work length22:39

$4.50

$6.50

$8.75

Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin
Recorded: October 2014
Recording Venue: Kammermusiksaal, Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

I. Agitato - Cantando

Track length5:18

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Vivace, leggiero - Allegro marcato

Track length5:17

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Marziale, pesante - Furioso - Tempo I

Track length4:40

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Andante, con tristezza

Track length7:24

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

Aho: Quintet for flute, oboe, violin, viola and cello

Work length31:59

$5.55

$9.05

$12.25

Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin
Recorded: October 2016
Recording Venue: Traumton Studios, Berlin-Spandau, Germany

I. Ruhig beginnend - Bewegter - Meno mosso…

Track length11:19

$2.05

$3.85

$5.25

II. Schnell, wild

Track length5:20

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Ruhig fließend

Track length8:55

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

IV. Lebhaft

Track length6:25

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

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With 17 symphonies in his list of works, not to mention operas and concertos, it is easy to forget that Kalevi Aho also composes chamber music. He has in fact written some ten quintets alone, for various combinations of instrument. Two are ‘normal’ wind quintets and it is these that the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet (BPWQ) perform on the present disc. The ensemble came into contact with the Finnish composer’s Wind Quintet No. 1 in 2010, and was immediately struck by the qualities and challenges of the score. The composer himself has described the difficulties in writing for wind quintet, in terms of achieving a balanced and homogeneous sound and soft dynamics. In his first quintet he therefore included unison passages and sometimes even reduced the music to one or two parts. In the fourth movement he also added a spatial dimension by having all of the players perform from offstage at some point. Having played the work a number of times on their many tours, the BPWQ decided to commission their own quintet, and in 2015 they gave the first performance of Wind Quintet No. 2. This time, Aho found another solution to the inherent difficulties – by making the flutist and oboist change instruments to piccolo or alto flute and cor anglais at various points, the piece achieves an even wider spectrum of unusual and innovative tone colours and moods.

Reviews

Awards Issue 2018

Aho’s brilliance at problem-solving and technical composition can conceal a slight lack of material carbohydrate…But there is plenteous atmosphere and much colour (however narrow the palette) in these performances – not just expert but painstakingly prepared and deeply considered.

Kalevi Aho: Wind Quintets Nos. 1 & 2

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