Consort for Ten Winds

Robert Spittal

Robert Spittal

General Info

Year: 2005
Duration: c. 11:40
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Cost: Score and Parts - $45.00   |   Score Only - $10.00

Movements

1. Jeux – 2:55
2. Aubade – 4:25
3. Sautereau – 4:00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
Horn in F I-II

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

A contemporary reflection on 16th-century French wind music, this Consort starts with a lively dance movement, then continues to a heartfelt Aubade and a capricious Sautureau.

- Program Note by publisher

The composer writes:

Each movement of Consort acknowledges “Les Grandes Hautboise,” the court wind band of France’s great “Sun King,” Louis XIV. This court was seen throughout Europe as the most resplendent of its time, and the presence of a court wind band there encouraged other courts in Europe to imitate and establish their own wind bands. This system of patronage continued to develop through the classical era, mostly in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia, resulting in notable wind ensemble pieces by composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. Despite the decline of court music in the early 19th century, 19th- and 20th-century composers, most notably Dvorak, Strauss and Stravinsky, continued to pay homage to the harmonie tradition.

Consort is this composer’s attempt to pay homage to the origins of that tradition. The outer movements Jeux (games) and Sautereau (a French saltarello) are whimsical, lively dances which reflect the frivolities and excesses of the court. They also refer to the importance of dance at the French court. The court’s composer, and founder of “Les Grandes Hautboise,” Jean-Baptiste Lully, established France’s first ballet academy during his tenure. The middle movement Aubade (morning song) is more intimate, lyrical, and influenced by the imitative styles of vocal music of the period.

All musical materials in this work are original, and not based on any specific pieces of that period. Rather, this is contemporary music that acknowledges the prevailing influences of music from an earlier time.

- Program Note by composer

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Wisconsin Wind Orchestra (Lawrence Dale Harper, conductor) - 2006

Audio Links

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• University of Colorado Boulder Symphonic Band (Derek Stoughton, conductor) - 7 December 2020
• University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Wind Ensemble (Shaun Evans, conductor) - 10 October 2020
• Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) Wind Ensemble (Derek Shapiro, conductor) – 20 November 2019
• New England Conservatory (Boston, Mass.) Symphonic Winds (William Drury, conductor) – 15 October 2019
• Idaho State University (Pocatello) Wind Ensemble (Patrick Brooks, conductor) – 19 April 2019
• Philadelphia (Penn.) Wind Symphony (Paul Bryan, conductor) – 8 December 2018
• Hope College (Holland, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Gabe Southard, conductor) - 23 April 2018
• University of Utah (Salt Lake City) Wind Ensemble (Vanessa Perala, conductor) – 20 April 2018
• Florida International University (Miami) Wind Ensemble (Brenton F. Alston, conductor) – 22 November 2017
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) Symphonic Winds (Ryan Scherber, conductor) – 12 November 2017
• Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Stuart Ivey, conductor) – 1 November 2017
• University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Winds (Kevin Holzman, conductor) – 26 October 2017
• University of Missouri, Kansas City, Conservatory Wind Ensemble (Joseph Parisi, conductor) – 19 April 2017
• Penn State University (University Park) Chamber Players (Brett Penshorn, conductor) - 28 January 2017
• University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Wind Ensemble (Dennis A. Hawkins Jr., conductor) – 23 September 2016
• Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (Onsby C. Rose, conductor) – 23 November 2015
• Appalachian Wind Ensemble (Boone, NC) (John Stanley Ross, conductor) – 4 October 2015
• Thornton & Asturizaga Woodwind Quintets – 7 July 2011

Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music

• Pacem (Adaptable Band) (2005/2020)
• Suite Euphonious (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• Winsome Variations (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2020)

All Wind Works

• Celestial Song (2014)
• Chinook Sketches
• Consort for Ten Winds (2005)
• Diversions (Spittal) (2018)
• Euphonious IV (2018)
• Lament (for a Fallen Friend)
• Mockingbird Rag
• Pacem (2005)
• Pacem (Adaptable Band) (2005/2020)
• Pacem (Brass Choir)
• Pineapple Frippery
• Prelude and Flight for Violin and Band (2014)
• Prelude and Scherzo
• Tarentella Forsennato
• Scherzo: Cat and Mouse (2012)
• St George's Fanfare
• Suite Euphonious (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• Winsome Variations (2019)
• Winsome Variations (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2020)
• Winter Dreams

References

• Robert Spittal website
• Spittal, R. (2005). Consort for Ten Winds [score]. Boosey & Hawkes: New York.