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March – Woodwind Quintet
The Suite of movements extracted by Tchaikovsky from his ballet music for The Nutcracker was an immediate success. As prevalent as the complete ballet The Nutcracker is today, it is hard to imagine that it took years, and perhaps the staging of George Balanchine, for it to become popular.
Some of the most memorable pieces from the suite are the Characteristic Dances. In Act II of the ballet, these movements are employed to introduce different residents of the “Land of Sweets.” Tchaikovsky’s orchestration makes adept use of wind instrument color. This translates very effectively in arrangements for the woodwind quintet.
In the March (Marche et petit galop des enfants) from Act I, children act as soldiers to music that is at the same time martial and innocent.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:40 / 23 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: G -
Praetorius: Two Christmas Pieces – Brass Quintet
Es Ist Ein Ros’ Entsprungen and Gespräch der Hirten zu Bethlehem (Colloquy of the Shepherds) are two pieces by Michael Praetorius, one well known and the other, less so. The original test of Gespräch, a retelling of Luke 2:15, juxtaposes the earthly and the divine using both German and Latin. This instrumental version for quartet or quintet (doubling the bass at the octave) evokes the sound of a Gabrieli Canzona.
The mp3 excerpt is performed by the Sine Nomine Brass Quintet. (Used with permission.)
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: 2 Bb Trumpets, F Horn, Trombone & Tuba
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 3:40 / 10 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: F -
Praetorius: Two Christmas Pieces – Woodwind Quintet
Es ist ein Ros’ Entsprungen and Gespräch der Hirten zu Bethlehem (Colloquy of the Shepherds) are two pieces by Michael Praetorius, one well known and the other, less so. The original test of Gespräch, a retelling of Luke 2:15, juxtaposes the earthly and the divine using both German and Latin.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 1:55 / 9 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: Ab-Eb -
Russian Dance: Trépak – Woodwind Quintet
The Suite of movements extracted by Tchaikovsky from his ballet music for The Nutcracker was an immediate success. As prevalent as the complete ballet The Nutcracker is today, it is hard to imagine that it took years, and perhaps the staging of George Balanchine, for it to become popular.
Some of the most memorable pieces from the suite are the Characteristic Dances. In Act II of the ballet, these movements are employed to introduce different residents of the “Land of Sweets.” Tchaikovsky’s orchestration makes adept use of wind instrument color. This translates very effectively in arrangements for the woodwind quintet.
The Russian Dance: Trépak ( Danse russe) is an energetic piece for all the instruments. It introduces Candy Canes in the Land of Sweets, building in excitement and speeding to the end.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 1:15 / 12 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: G
