Project Description
Woodwind Quintet
1984
20 min.
Listen Now
Bergen Woodwind Quintet
On the album, David Maslanka: Quintets Nos 1-3 (2002)
Preview Score
Movements
- I.
- II.
- III.
Commissioned by
the Manhattan Wind Quintet
Premiere
in 1984 by the Manhattan Wind Quintet at Symphony Space in New York City.
Program Note
Quintet for Winds No. 1 was composed in 1984 for the Manhattan Wind Quintet, and premiered by them at Symphony Space in New York City. The music has no particular story to tell, and might be considered a short symphony for five players. There is a character of mystery about the music. Ideas are deceptively simple, even innocent-sounding, yet each movement unfolds with an increasing depth and dramatic urgency. Each is a life story without words. The second movement does have an external reference: The New York city subway system. At my home stop of 200th street in Manhattan, out-of-service trains were often parked with their air compressors running. The harmonic complex of forced sustained sounds inspired this movement.
Program Note by David Maslanka
Further Reading
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 95, More New Performances of Chamber Music
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three new performances of chamber works: Quintet for Winds No. 3, Quintet for Winds No. 1, and Sonata for Oboe and Piano.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 11, The Wind Quintet
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, phenomenal performances of Quintet for Winds No. 3, Movement I, Quintet for Winds No. 1, Movement 1, and the entirety of Quintet for Winds No. 2.
David Maslanka: Works for Younger Wind Ensembles
Here are more than twenty works for wind ensemble, arranged in approximate ascending order of difficulty, with commentary by David Maslanka
Recording the Wind Ensemble Music of David Maslanka
Mark Morette of Mark Custom Recording shares his extensive experience in recording wind ensembles.
