St Dunstan-in-the-West

Programme:

Antoine Reicha Andante No.1 in Eb Major

Samuel Barber Summer Music

Antoine Reicha Andante No.2 in F major

Thea Musgrave Wind Quintet

Antoine Reicha Adagio in D minor

Kazimeirz Machała American Folk Suite

Why this programme…?

In trying to stray off the beaten path of programming we’ve gone with a structure that should end up being a really interesting listen. Reicha’s two andantes and an adagio are not in the regular canon but are really something special. Despite being written between 1815- 1817 they are actually almost… romantic in style? We also find it interesting that although published together, they’re not necessarily one package (Lumas are performing the Adagio in D minor at City Music Society the following week), hence the two year gap in writing them. In between is a staple work of the repertoire – Barber’s one movement Summer Music. And a work that’s slowly becoming a staple – Musgrave’s one movement Wind Quintet. The dramatic and tumultuous element of these rather grand, emotional works will make Reicha the perfect respite! To finish, Machała’s folk suite will send any sorrowful moods left over from the Adagio toppling.