The Borealis Wind Quintet are a superb
ensemble. Their playing is precise without
ever being merely pedantic; their control
of dynamics is masterly and their internal
balance is faultless. All five members
are both sensitive and technically accomplished
musicians, and their long familiarity
with one another – the Quintet was founded
in 1976 – conditions everything that
they do.
Many of their virtues
are in evidence on this present CD.
I am not, sure, however, that this is
a programme in which they can fully
do themselves justice or which is entirely
satisfying to the listener. The Quintet
themselves explain the concept: "While
we are always on the lookout for larger,
substantial works, we inevitably come
across sparkling little gems that also
deserve the spotlight. We include these
pieces in our programs to frame and
balance the weightier repertoire ...
The works on this CD comprise a fine
musical menu, with delectable starters
such as Rota’s Petite Offrande Musicale,
scrumptious entrées such as Milhaud’s
La Cheminée du Roi
René, some tempting side
dishes and to finish on a sweet note,
a Briccialdi bon-bon". Certainly
there are tasty items here but, to use
their own analogies, where are the "weightier"
items that are being framed; where is
the main course?
But let’s celebrate
what we have got. The Milhaud’s with
its echoes of folk melodies is a delight
– how rarely he disappoints! The work
is played with great fluency, its graceful
dance rhythms expertly realised. Schuller’s
Suite, in three movements, employs
blues and jazz inflections, to which
the Borealis respond with evident enthusiasm.
Persichetti’s Pastoral begins
with a lovely duet between flute and
clarinet and the writing is attractively
evocative. Briccialdi’s Potpourri
Fantastico (for which I have been
unable to find a precise date of composition)
belongs in the thriving nineteenth-century
tradition of opera melodies adapted
for other instruments or groups of instruments
- Briccialdi, known in his day as "the
Paganini of the flute" created
many such works. The Potpourri
is a witty delight; the Borealis communicate
their own pleasure in playing it. Beach’s
short Pastorale is a very late
work, quiet and reflective, and is again
beautifully played.
The piece by Rota is
very slight; the Farkas Dances are a
technical test as much as anything –
the Borealis, naturally, pass the test
with flying colours. The Grainger is
insubstantial, almost as twee as the
composer’s description of it as a ‘Room
Music Tit-bit’ for ‘wind five-some’.
Turrin’s Summer Dances are pleasant
without being particularly memorable.
So, some of the music
is of less than lasting interest, except
to those with a special interest in
the repertoire for wind quintet. But
there is enough good music of more general
interest and some very impressive playing.
The recorded sound is excellent.
Glyn Pursglove
Borealis Wind Quintet: Katherine Fink (flute),
Tamar Beach Wells (oboe), Kathryn Taylor (clarinet),
Dan Culpepper (horn), Wayne Hileman (bassoon).
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