Now available! CD264, CD265, CD266, CD267, & CD269:

The first five releases in Crystal Records' series of Reicha's monumental 24 woodwind quintets, which are beautiful works, symphonic in scope. Most are 35-40 minutes long, and all hold the listener's attention with their gorgeous slow movements and thrilling allegros and scherzos. The Westwood Wind Quintet has now recorded 20 of the 24 quintets, with 10 now on CD. We will be releasing the rest of the Reicha quintets on CD as they become available, about every five months.

Anton Reicha (1770-1836), one of the most respected composers of the period, was a friend of Beethoven & Haydn, and teacher of Berlioz, Franck, Gounod, & Liszt. These 24 quintets are his masterworks.

The Westwood Wind Quintet captures the glory of these wonderful pieces. This recording project will continue over the next few years, with releases every four to five months. We hope the series will increase the recognition of this giant of the 19^th century. His music has great depth of feeling and strong emotions. These are profound and beautiful works.

Of the Westwood Wind Quintet, which has performed actively for over 48 years, famed conductor Robert Shaw wrote "one listens to this ensemble as one listens to the finest of string quartets. It is a complete and completely satisfying experience." Gramophone Magazine called the Westwood Wind Quintet "a magnificent American group. Superlative playing."

New Release! CD264: Reicha: Woodwind Quintets Vol 4: opus 91, Nos. 1 & 2. Westwood Wind Quintet
This is the fifth release in Crystal Records' series of Anton Reicha's 24 woodwind quintets. UPC 00941472642-1 ORDER NOW

CD265: Reicha Woodwind Quintets Vol 5: opus 91, Nos. 3 & 4. Performed by the Westwood Wind Quintet. "Westwood's members succeed in capturing the unique qualities of Reicha's quintets and do so in a manner that indicates their admiration and respect for the repertoire. The players seek, find, and reveal the numerous qualities that have kept this repertoire alive for almost two centuries." Carter, Fanfare Magazine UPC 00941472652-0 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Opus 91, no. 3   Mvmt 1 Mvmt 2 Mvmt 3 Mvmt 4   Opus 91, no. 4  Mvmt 1 Mvmt 2 Mvmt 3 Mvmt 4

CD266: Reicha Woodwind Quintets Vol 6: opus 91, Nos. 5 & 6. Performed by the Westwood Wind Quintet. "The performances radiate affection for the music and technical virtuosity. This delightful disc rates a high recommendation." Story, Fanfare Magazine UPC 00941472662-9 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Quintet in A Major, opus 91, no. 5  Mvmt 1 Mvmt 2 Mvmt 3 Mvmt 4 Quintet in C minor, opus 91, no. 6: Mvmt 1 Mvmt 2 Mvmt 3 Mvmt 4

CD267: Reicha Woodwind Quintets Vol 7: opus 99, Nos. 1 & 2. Performed by the Westwood Wind Quintet.
This is the third release in Crystal's exciting project of recording the complete 24 Reicha Woodwind Quintets. UPC 00941472672-8 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown. 
 Reicha Quintet in C Major, opus 99, no.1 Mvt. 1 Mvt. 2 Mvt. 3 Mvt. 4 Quintet in F Minor, opus 99, no.2 Mvt. 1 Mvt. 2 Mvt. 3 Mvt. 4

CD269: Reicha Woodwind Quintets Vol 9: opus 99, Nos. 5 & 6. Performed by the Westwood Wind Quintet.
This is the fourth release of Reicha quintets. “Crystal Record’s devotion to Reicha’s woodwind quintets is estimable. [These works] are big, sonorous and large-scale ones published in 1822 and fully deserving of reclamation in such expert hands as these. The opening of Op.99 No.5 floats in with the most beautiful and well balanced Andante – a Siciliano of dappled loveliness. The ensuing tumbling, flowing and exciting extroversion is the perfect riposte: an Allegro of ravenous yet decorous masculinity. It shows how finely perched these works are between introspection and well-wrought, technically accomplished self-projection. They’re also formally always of the highest interest, playing tricks with harmony, structure, form and keys so subtly that you would barely notice. Reicha was a master of the form and wrote voraciously for woodwind quintet. This series is shaping up to be a major contribution on record…big, symphonic quintets, cleanly delineated, finely played and bursting with classical ideas and expertise.” MusicWeb International UPC 00941472692-6 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Quintet in B Minor, opus 99, no. 5: Andante/Allegro Andante Menuetto Finale Quintet in G Major, opus 99, no. 6: Andante/Allegro Poco Vivo Air En Fantaisie Menuetto Finale

"Reicha's wind quintets...probably always will be regarded as the summit and foundation of the literature. The Westwood Wind Quintet is known far and wide to lovers of this kind of music." Ritter, American Record Guide

Fanfare reviewers have said of this series "only top-notch playing that can only be envied by lesser ensembles. The players seek, find, and reveal the numerous qualities that have kept this repertoire alive for almost two centuries...recording is invigorating, fresh, and imaginative...performances radiate affection for the music and technical virtuosity. Exceptional recordings. Splendid works, splendidly played." – Fanfare Magazine

“This recording displays once again that the Westwood Wind Quintet is one of the finest wind quintets in the world.” – International Double Reed Society Journal

“These [are] glorious quintets...technical wizardry informs [Reicha’s] structures with a constant freshness, a feeling of unquenchable invention...with radiant good humour. The Westwood Wind Quintet...has a standard of ensemble playing that is nothing short of breathtaking.” – International Record Review

“[The Westwood Wind Quintet] was described by the late Robert Shaw as ‘a complete and completely satisfying musical experience.’ From the evidence of my ears, they [are] ideal for recording what is planned as a complete cycle of Reicha’s 24 wind quintets.” – Classik Reviews, Atlanta Audio Society

Richard Lesser, the esteemed principal clarinetist of the Israel Philharmonic, wrote the following to oboist Peter Christ after hearing these Westwood Wind Quintet recordings of the Reicha Quintets: “Last night I read the program notes, and that really set me up for this morning’s enjoyment. The perfection of the ensemble playing – the beginnings, balance and intonation, is absolutely uncanny. The group is so well-honed that it is a supreme pleasure to settle in, sit back and listen to all that beauty. The solo passages are dispatched with such aplomb that one couldn’t want anything better. Congratulations to all of you. I am especially moved by your sweet expressive oboe sound.”

About the most recent release he wrote “You have all maintained your excellence in this latest release. There are so many treacherous places for intonation, and it all sounds as clean as a whistle. Ensemble is impeccable, individual virtuosity is consistently impressive – flawless, and tossed off with aplomb. It’s a great achievement.”

All of our CDs are now available for ordering on-line, through our associate CCNow.  If the item says ORDER NOW click on those words and go to our shopping cart.  You are still able to order via e-mail, info@crystalrecords.com., or place your order by phone at 360-834-7022 or on our 24-hour fax line at 360-834-9680.  See information on our main page. Price of all CDs is $16.95. U.S. shipping is $2.00 per order.

Our 4 for 3 offer is now available on-line. When you order 4 CDs, what you need to do is place the order for the first 3 CDs using the Order Now buttons. Before checking out you will be given an opportunity to write a comment to go with your order.   In the "other notes or instructions" space, write FREE CD with the catalog number of the one you want. In that way, you will receive the 4 CDs and only be charged for 3.

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