Lumas Winds

St Saviour's, Pimlico
2022-11-04 13:15 UTC | St Saviour’s, St George's Square, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3QW
Programme:
Samuel Barber Summer Music
Perotin Alleluya Nativitas (arr. Oliver Knussen)
W.A Mozart Adagio, K.617 and variations (arr. Sally Beamish)
Paul Hindemith Kleine Kammermusik for Wind Quintet

I. Lustig: Mässig schnelle Viertel
II. Walzer: Durchweg sehr leise
III. Ruhig und einfach
IV. Schnelle Viertel
V. Sehr lebhaft

Why this programme…?
We continue to experiment with the form of our programmes – this time around, two works not in the regular canon are sandwiched in between two of the absolute stock and classics of wind quintet repertoire.
Both arrangements of older music are conceived by two of Britain’s foremost 20th century composers. Oliver Knussen arranges Perotin whilst Sally Beamish arranges Mozart. We were really interested in the differences in the way each went about the process of ‘arranging’. And although their final products are contrasting, there is similarity in the sense that each composer’s individual personalities and sounds are very much prevalent. It’s also worth noting that both composers decided to use cor Anglais in place of oboe.

City Music Society
2022-10-20 13:05 | St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE
Programme:
Edward Elgar Harmony Music No.1
Edward Elgar Harmony Music No.2
Antoine Reicha Adagio
Carl Nielsen Wind Quintet

I. Allegro ben moderato
II. Menuetto
III. Praeludium: Adagio. Tema con variazioni: Un poco andantino

Why this programme…?
One might have thought that if Edward Elgar wrote a wind quintet, we would hear it performed all the time – well… he wrote twelve of them! Sadly for us and the so-called modern wind quintet however they’re a little different from the norm. Elgar composed around one a week in the years 1878 and 79. All due to the fact that a group of friends would gather and play the music in a garden shed. (Sure enough, these pieces are now known as, the Shed Music). A compositional challenge for the young composer to do so every week as well as a social gathering of his three friends plus his brother Frank who played oboe. The instrumentation then does not include French Horn – instead two flutes, oboe, clarinet and Elgar’s own bassoon.
Lumas have managed to get their hands on arrangements of Harmony Music Nos. 1 and 2, the first in the catalogue to be written, now suited to us in the form of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and french horn. However, this music exists! And although we will be performing an arrangement, we feel very excited to be sharing a rarely heard snippet from one of the most well-known composers in English music history.

St Dunstan-in-the-West
2022-10-12 13:00 | St Dunstan in the West, 186a Fleet Street, London, EC4a 2HR
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.

University Church, Oxford
2022-09-15 13:00 | University Church, The High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BJ
Programme:
Gunther Schuller Suite for Wind Quintet

I. Prelude
II. Blues
III. Toccata

Oliver Knussen Three Little Fantasies

I. Tempo guisto
II. Lento e calmo
III. Vivace

Carl Nielsen Wind Quintet

I. Allegro ben moderato
II. Menuetto
III. Praeludium: Adagio. Tema con variazioni: Un poco andantino

Why this programme…?
We start off with the jazz inspired quintet (1945) of the American composer and French Horn player Gunther Schuller. Although jazz and the freedom that comes with this sound world sits on the surface (especially in ‘Blues’), the composer is actually very specific about sticking to what is written. Indeed, he insists that none of the players attempt anything in the way of improvising, slides, emphasis of certain beats, etc. We feel this fun and variable piece is a pleasant way to kick off the concert.
Oliver Knussen’s Three Little Fantasies (1970) is also a piece filled with detailed directions for the players to munch on. Specifically, it uses a technique called ‘Klangfarbenmelodie’ where one melody is passed between the players but still retains its line. Knussen said “they were originally – perhaps unrealistically! – intended as etudes in such things for young players” and indeed this piece is probably the hardest of the programme. It even requires us to conduct at points (it’s not required but it is necessary).
Finally, we’re really looking forward to performing the Nielsen quintet (1923) for the very first time. A staple for any wind quintet’s diet, the Nielsen is probably one of the most well known and loved pieces of the repertoire – so for us, this couldn’t come sooner! The composer had in mind the members of a specific group (the Copenhagen Wind Quintet) when writing, so each part is filled to the brim with the individual personalities – from the sometimes seemingly strange choice of dynamics, to the choice of including a Cor Anglais, right down to the argument between the clarinet and bassoon in one of the 3rd movement’s variations.
So, each piece has three movements with each composer being highly committed to intense detail. Other than that, they are complete and utter contrasts!

Ironstone Chamber Music Festival 2022
2022-09-10 19:00 | St Etherelda’s, Little Lane, Horley, Banbury, OX15 6BJ
We’re delighted to be a part of this year’s Ironstone festival and hope to see you there!
Programme:
W. A. Mozart Oboe Quartet

I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Rondeau: Allegro

Heitor Villa-Lobos Wind Trio

I. Animé
II. Languissament
III. Vif

Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet Op. 59 no. 3

I. Allegro
II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro
IV. Presto

Ironstone Chamber Music Festival 2022
2022-09-10 12:00 | Church of St John the Baptist, Hornton, Banbury, OX15 6QE
We’re delighted to be a part of this year’s Ironstone festival and hope to see you there!
Programme:
J.S Bach Chaconne from Partita for Violin in D Minor BMV1004

I. Allemanda
II. Corrente
III. Sarabanda
IV. Giga
V. Ciaccona

Edward Elgar Romance for Bassoon and Strings Op. 62
Heinrich Baermann Adagio for Clarinet & String Quartet
Maurice Ravel Duo for Violin & Cello

I. Allegro
II. Très vif
III. Lent
IV. Vif, avec entrain

Ironstone Chamber Music Festival 2022
2022-09-09 19:00 | St Etherelda’s, Little Lane, Horley, Banbury, OX15 6BJ
We’re delighted to be a part of this year’s Ironstone festival and hope to see you there!
Programme:
Ludwig van Beethoven String Trio Op. 9 no.1 in G

I. Adagio – Allegro con brio
II. Adagio ma non tanto e cantabile
III. Scherzo – Allegro
IV. Presto

Francis Poulenc Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon

I. Allegro
II. Romance
III. Final

Dmitri Shostakovich String Quartet No.8 in C minor

I. Largo
II. Allegro molto
III. Allegretto
IV. Largo
V. Largo

St Mary-le-Bow
2022-07-28 13:05 | St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London, EC2V 6AU
Programme:
Sally Beamish The Naming of Birds
Oliver Knussen Three Little Fantasies
Elizabeth Maconchy Wind Quintet

St James's, Sussex Gardens
2022-07-22 13:00 | St James’s, Sussex Gardens, Paddington, London, W2 3UD
Programme:
J.S Bach Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (arr. Christopher Weait)
Oliver Knussen Three Little Fantasies
Thea Musgrave Wind Quintet
Gavin Higgins After Fallout…

St Olave's, Hart Street
2022-07-20 13:00 | St Olave’s, 8 Hart Street, London, EC3R 7NB
Programme:
Sally Beamish The Naming of Birds
Thea Musgrave Wind Quintet
Gunther Schuller Suite for Wind Quintet
Gavin Higgins After Fallout…
