EUROPEAN WOODWIND QUARTET

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT FOR WOODWIND QUARTET

SAT 10 AUG, 21:00

Spyros Stefanou Estate, Kampos, Chios

Please note: Parking space available at close proximity at the Schools of Klouva.

The European Woodwind Quartet presents a rare and unexpected programme of classical and contemporary music, featuring four wind instruments –flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon– in one of the most unusual combinations in classical music. In addition to the more familiar woodwind quintet formation, the flexibility and particular timbre of these instruments allows several works to be included in a programme exclusively for four musicians. Many composers have explored the possibilities of this ensemble from the beginnings of classical music to the present day, which underlines the musical interest of such a concert. Specifically, the programme will include original works and arrangements written for this combination, covering many musical eras: from the Baroque with Bach, Classicism with Mozart and German Romanticism with Goepfart and Schumann, to French Neoclassicism with Jean Françaix and Impressionism with Bozza. Furthermore, some jazz elements, such as pieces by Rutsov, will blend harmoniously with the classical melodies, giving a particularly refreshing touch to the quartet’s refined choices.

 

Contributors
Hugo Rodriguez: Clarinet
Zeynep Ayaydinl: Bassoon
Liam Mallett: Flute
Julia Obergfell: Oboe

PROGRAMME

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Adagio und allegro in F minor, KV 594

1) Adagio

2) Allegro

3) Adagio

 

Eugène Bozza (1905-1991) 

Trois pièces pour une musique de nuit 

1) Andantino

2) Allegro vivo

3) Moderato

 

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

(arr. for wind quartet: Michel Rondeau) 

Suite Νo. Suite No. 2 from “Album für die Jugend”, Op. 68

 

Jean Françaix (1912-1997)

Quatuor 

1) Allegro

2) Andante

3) Allegro molto

4) Allegro vivo

 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

(arr. for wind quartet: Yaskawa Toru) 

Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639

 

Karl Eduard Goepfart (1859-1942) 

Quartet, Op. 93

1) Allegro risoluto

2) Scherzo. Vivace

3) Fuga. Allegro vivo, con bravura

 

Andrey Rutsov (1982-) 

Two bagatelles for Woodwind Quartet

1) Valse in Imitation of Khachaturian

2) Allegro vivo

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Adagio und allegro in F minor, KV 594

Mozart is one of the few composers to have written masterpieces in every musical genre of his time. This particular work has a special history and was written for a not so conventional musical instrument. It was commissioned by Count Joseph Deym to be played at a funeral by a musical clock, attached to a small pipe organ that could play automatically. One of the most popular arrangements that followed is the one for woodwind quartet. The work is in classical ABA form but the structure of the three parts (slow-fast-slow) with a main theme is surprisingly unusual, a fact that can be attributed to the particular circumstances in which the work was written. 

 

Eugène Bozza (1905-1991) 

Trois pièces pour une musique de nuit 

The French composer Eugène Bozza, known throughout the world for his chamber music, wrote “Three pieces for night music” for woodwind quartet in 1954. The influence of Ravel-Debussy is clearly discernible, while at the same time we can identify characteristics of the orchestral music of 20th century French composers. 

The first movement begins with a seductive melody on the flute, but then the melodic ideas permeate all the instruments until the Andantino is completed in the major scale of the same name. The second movement, with its fast 3/8 tempo, its characteristic insistence on staccato, its dance-like phrases and the bassoon’s distinctive bass line, provides a challenging framework for the performers’ coordination. The last movement, which begins with a tropical melody for clarinet and bassoon, is an example of the influence of the Neoclassicism that was flourishing in Europe at the time. An intimate harmonic background and contrapuntal writing intertwine with strong chromatic passages and an unexpected dominant melody. 

 

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

(arr. for wind quartet: Michel Rondeau) 

Suite Νo. Suite No. 2 from “Album für die Jugend”, Op. 68

For the German Romantic composer Robert Schumann, 1848 was the year in which he completed his “Album for the Young”. It is a collection of short piano pieces for the birthday of his daughter Marie. Essentially, the composer adopts a practice of writing short character pieces in cycles that he will follow throughout the rest of his creative period. This cycle of pieces has been subject to many arrangements in the history of music. Michel Rondeau has arranged excerpts from these short pieces for woodwind quartet with unique virtuosity and they are performed in chamber music concert halls all over the world.

 

Jean Françaix (1912-1997)

Quatuor 

The 20th century French composer Jean Françaix belongs to the neoclassical school. He wrote this quartet when he was only 22. It is a work rich in emotion and different styles of woodwind playing, a forerunner of the many pieces of chamber music for woodwinds that were to follow. 

The first movement features intense dialogue between the instruments, based on two main melodies of contrasting character. The slow second movement has a lyrical character with a melancholy mood. The intensely rhythmic and multi-thematic third movement adds action to the flow of the composition. The explosive finale is a celebration of the timbres and virtuoso passages of the four woodwinds.

 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639

(arr. for wind quartet: Yaskawa Toru) 

J.S. Bach was deeply aware of the spiritual dimension of music and wanted his works to nourish the soul as well as entertain. During his time as organist in Weimar (1708-1714), the composer conceived a rather grandiose project: the adaptation of 164 chorales of the Lutheran Church, relating to various festive cycles. In the end, he only adapted the 46 choral preludes (BWV 599-644), which are known to us today as a collection in the “Little Organ Book” (Orgelbüchlein). A very popular choral prelude in this collection is “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ” in trio-sonata form in the unusual key of F minor. It is worth mentioning that the song was used in the film “Solaris” (1972) by Andrei Tarkovsky. This very interesting arrangement for woodwind quartet is by the Japanese composer Yaskawa Toru.

 

Karl Eduard Goepfart (1859-1942) 

Quartet, Op. 93

The German Romantic composer worked as a conductor and choirmaster in many German cities from 1875. He wrote operas, symphonies, but above all he left us a rich body of chamber music, the most popular of which is the quartet op. 93 for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon. The long first movement has two alternating parts. The second part is a lively scherzo. The finale begins with a skilfully written fugue full of tension. We hear the melody first from the oboe, then from the bassoon, then from the flute and finally from the clarinet. Its development will lead us to a slow lyrical interlude before a new fugue on a similar melodic theme appears. 

 

Andrey Rutsov (1982-) 

Two bagatelles for Woodwind Quartet

A first-class graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, the young Russian composer Andrey Rutsov is already known throughout the world for his chamber music for woodwinds. The bagatelles for woodwind quartet were written in 2007.

First we hear a slow waltz that clearly imitates Khachaturian’s compositional style, but bears Rutsov’s orchestral signature. This is followed by an Allegro vivo which, with its cheerful mood, highlights the rich timbres of the four woodwinds. In this part we see Rutsov in conversation with the musical language of the past and the new technical potential of the 21st century woodwinds.

 

 

Musicological note: Fotis Pezos