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Dance of the Mirlitons – 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 this arrangement of Dance of the Toy Flutes (Danse des Mirlitons), flute, oboe and clarinet offer the famous “reed pipe” choir while horn and bassoon supply other elements of the orchestral texture.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:35 / 17 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: D -
Deck the Halls – Woodwind Quintet
This popular carol’s English lyric dates from the late 19th century but it’s melody goes back to 16th century Wales. The arrangement for woodwind quintet is a series of variations designed to be fun for each member of the quintet to play. In the end though, it’s a real showcase for the bassoon.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:45 / 19 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: Bb-C-Bb -
Gabriel’s Message – Clarinet Quartet
Gabriel’s Message is a traditional Basque folk carol, based on Angelus Ad Virginem, a 13th or 14th century Latin Advent carol.
In this expressive arrangement Bill Reichenbach adds creative textures, harmonies, and phrasing, thus giving it a beautiful ancient-modern feel.
Composer: Bill Reichenbach
Instrumentation: 3 Bb Clarinets & 1 Bb Bass Clarinet
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 3:54 / 18 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A -
Il est né, le devin Enfant – Woodwind Quintet
Il est né, le devin Enfant, a French Christmas carol, occupies an unusual position between the secular and the sacred. Suitably, this instrumental version can find a place on different types of programs. A joyous carol, the text of the chorus tells us to celebrate by playing oboes and sounding bagpipes.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:30 / 14 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: C-Db