The wind ensemble will perform a selection from Paquito D’rivera's ‘Aires Tropicales’.
In its original form, Umoja, the Swahili word for Unity and the first principle of the African Dispora holiday Kwanzaa, was compose a simple song for women’s choir. It embodied a sense of ‘tribal unity’, through the feel of a drum circle, the sharing of history through traditional “call and response” form and the repetition of a memorable sing-song melody. It was rearranged into woodwind quintet form during the genesis of Coleman’s chamber music ensemble, Imani Winds, with the intent of providing an anthem that celebrated the diverse heritages of the ensemble itself.
i Lustig. Mäßig schnell Viertel, ii Walzer: Durchweg sehr leise, iii Ruhig und einfach, iv Schnelle Viertel, v Sehr lebhaft
In Hindemith’s Kleine Kammermusik the composer alludes to Stravinsky by utilizing repeated patterns, similar to repetitive patterns in a groove-like rhythm in that movement. Hindemith references jazz in movement titles such as “Shimmy” and “Ragtime”. The exploration of jazz by both Stravinsky and Hindemith reflects Ravel’s practice of using Basque dance music.
Amy Beach was fond of nature and often chose to work near parks and woodland. This landscape is reflected in the Pastorale, originally composed for wind quintet in 1941. The piece is developed from earlier sketches, including a 1921 version in D for solo cello with flute and piano. A second version for cello and organ was published in a collection of five pieces for cello and piano. The music for the quintet version is written in a relatively conservative style, and Beach reworks the original sketches in a contrapuntal texture.
i Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant, ii Petit Poucet, iii Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes, iv Les entretiens de la belle et de la bête, v Le jardin féerique
Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose) is a suite by French composer Maurice Ravel. The piece was originally written as a five-movement piano duet in 1910. In 1911, Ravel orchestrated the work.
i Alborada, ii Son, iii Habañera, iv Vals Venezolano, v Dizzyness, vi Contradanza, vii Afro
This original 7 movement work for wind quintet was commissioned by the Aspen Wind Quintet. It was premiered in 1994 in New York City. The movements are as follows: “Alborada”, a slow introduction; “Son”, with an ostinato Latin bass line in the bassoon and horn; “Habañera”, a trio movement for flute, clarinet and bassoon in the style of Ravel; “Vals Venezolano”, a lively Venezuelan waltz; “Dizzyness”, an homage to the late, great Dizzy Gillespie; “Contradanza”, an upbeat Cuban dance honoring Ernesto Lecuona; and “Afro”, which begins with a flute solo, followed by an energetic, rhythmic six-eight dance over an African ostinato.
Red Clay is short work that combines the traditional idea of musical scherzo with living in the South. It references the background of my mother’s side of the family that hails from the Mississippi delta region. From the juke joints and casino boats that line the Mississippi river, to the skin tone of kinfolk in the area: a dark skin that looks like it came directly from the red clay. The solo lines are instilled with personality, meant to capture the listener’s attention as they wail with “bluesy” riffs that are accompanied (‘comped’) by the rest of the ensemble. The result is a virtuosic chamber work that merges classical technique and orchestration with the blues dialect and charm of the south.
Aston Ensemble (Wind ensemble)
The Ashton Ensemble present a programme highlighting the hidden gems of the wind quintet repertoire. Showcasing repertoire from across the world, this music pushes the boundaries of what wind music should be, allowing the musicians so shine in virtuosity.
The Ashton Ensemble is a newly formed group composed of musicians from the top wind ensembles at the Royal College of Music. The group, largely working as an octet, provides a space for collaboration, exploration and engagement with new music. They are dedicated to showcasing brilliant works for wind ensembles of all sizes, and have been hailed for their energetic playing and eclectic programming. Recent highlights have included performances at Champs Hill, Garsington Opera, Dorchester Arts and Highgrove House
Clarinet Trio
4 September 2025
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