Cécile Chaminade’s Air de Ballet, Op. 30 is a charming, early-career piano work (often noted as "The Paris Waltz") composed around 1880-1890, reflecting the elegant, melodic style of the French Belle Époque. It is characterized by its, lyrical, salon-style charm, often featuring a rapid "Mouvement de Valse" that is both technically accessible and musically expressive.
Quintette en ut was composed in 1952 and premiered by the French Wind Quintet in Sarrebrück, Germany, 1952. Louise-Marie Simon was professionally known as Claude Arrieu - a French composer, pedagogue, and music producer.
Written for the Ormonde Ensemble, this is the world premiere of Nneka Cummin's composition un/rethread for wind quintet. Nneka Cummins is an award-winning composer and music producer from Liverpool, based in London.
i Prelude, ii Serenade, iii Humoresque, iv Minuet and Trio, v Dance
Written during his studies at the Royal College of Music, 5 Fantasiestücke was premiered in 1895 but wasn’t published for another six years. The work features five distinct character pieces, each showcasing a unique style and mood. The first piece, “Prelude,” opens with atmospheric drones and builds in agitation before introducing a beautiful main theme. The following “Serenade” is lyrical and flowing, evoking a sense of floating, and concludes with a graceful cadence. The third movement, “Humoresque,” is a lively scherzo reminiscent of Dvořák’s style, featuring rhythmic propulsion, minor-mode dynamics, and a touch of Haydnesque wit—reflecting Coleridge-Taylor’s admiration for Dvořák. The “Minuet” that follows is elegant, with a charming trio section that incorporates trills and suspensions. The finale, “Dance,” recalls the opening “Prelude,” using rich drones to create an energetic atmosphere.
i Allegro, ii Andante, iii Quite slow — Allegro scherzando
Composed in 1930, the Three Short Pieces were originally intended as incidental music for Maurice Constantin-Weyer 's French adaptation of The Beaux' Stratagem by the Irishman George Farquhar, under the title Le Stratagème des roués.
Ormonde Ensemble (Wind ensemble)
Ormonde Ensemble are a London-based wind quintet who are quickly establishing themselves on the UK’s music scene, both collectively and individually. They are particularly passionate about seeking out, commissioning, and performing lesser-known and underrepresented works, and their diverse range of musical experiences allows them to explore more familiar wind quintet repertoire with a fresh and engaging approach.
The quintet have a wealth of performance experience, giving numerous recitals at prominent venues in London and around the UK. Ormonde Ensemble also share a strong commitment to outreach and education work. In 2022/23, they were fellows on Wigmore Hall’s acclaimed Chamber Tots training programme, in which they delivered exciting, engaging, and original musical workshops for young children. They have experience leading educational projects in schools, and are looking forward to expanding this work over the coming year, with the support of an RCM Accelerate grant.
Individually, the group’s players have an extensive and varied range of professional experiences. These include playing with many of the UK’s major symphony orchestras, including the LSO, RPO, LPO, Orchestra of the ROH Covent Garden, RLPO, Philharmonia Orchestra, CBSO, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC NOW, Ulster Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. The members have also received further professional training through schemes such as the LPO’s Foyle Future Firsts programme and the London Sinfonietta Academy, as well as carrying out outreach and education work around the country with Live Music Now and the RSNO.
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