Wind Quintet (Beranek)

Jacob Beranek

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 20:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Beranek Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $50.00

Movements

1. Flowing
2. Peacefully - Playfully
3. Hymn-like
4. Celebrating

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute (Piccolo)
Oboe (English horn)
B-flat Clarinet
Horn in F
Bassoon

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The modern wind quintet has enjoyed a rich, colorful history for two centuries. With this Wind Quintet, I strove to put my own personal spin on the genre while still honoring its heritage. The resulting work, therefore, is a study in tradition and play, upholding my philosophy of writing something I’d enjoy if I were sitting in the audience -- and something that hopefully fulfills players in rehearsal and performance.

The first movement is in classic sonata-allegro form. This choice was an experiment to see if this tried, embraced, discarded, and re-embraced mold stands the test of time, making it “my own” only by placing my own ideas inside. The second movement takes the form of a rondo with a reflective introduction and lively coda. This mixed-meter movement is built around a repetitive, jaunty A theme that returns twice after its first statement, with contrasting themes sandwiched in between (ABACA). The third movement is a theme and variations -- or perhaps more accurately, a hymn and investigations. After the theme (which begins with a brief quotation of Vaughan Williams’s Sine nomine), a jig-like variation in 6/8 leads into a more pensive variation with the theme covered up in the bassline. A pointillist restatement of the theme pops up and dances right into a fugue, which is the largest of the five variations. After hearkening back to my original hymn tune in a chorale-like final variation, the third movement settles to a close, and the finale begins. This last movement is ternary (ABA) and features an A theme built around two syncopated tunes which are contrasted by a flowing B section. The A section returns after some finagling, and once it pulls itself together, rushes headlong to a jubilant conclusion, joyously concluding the celebration.

— Program note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Midsummer's Music Festival Quintet

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Midsummer's Music Festival, Fish Creek, Wisc. - 17 July 2019
Midsummer's Music Festival, Egg Harbor, Wisc. - 14 July 2019
Midsummer's Music Festival, Ephraim, Wisc. - 12 July 2019
Midsummer's Music Festival, Sister Bay, Wisc. - 11 July 2019
Midsummer's Music Festival, Egg Harbor, Wisc. - 10 July 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Resources

Jacob Beranek website Accessed 8 July 2020