CRYSTAL RECORDS   Westwood Wind Quintet

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The Westwood Wind Quintet (of Los Angeles) was founded in 1959 and has performed and recorded actively for 50 years, during which time it has given over 3000 concerts and recorded more than 20 albums. In the mid-1980s, Daniel Carriaga, music critic with the Los Angeles Times, wrote "An Accumulation of instrumental polish and important repertoire over a long period has resulted in a treasurable sense of ensemble and musical solidity." Upon hearing the Quintet in a concert, Robert Shaw, former music director of the Atlanta Symphony, wrote “One listens to this ensemble as one listens to the finest of string quartets. It is a complete and completely satisfying musical experience.”

High Fidelity Magazine wrote: “Extraordinary tone quality. The Westwood performers manifest a technical finesse and a richness of tone that one would normally expect only from a solo concert artist.”

Fanfare Magazine wrote: “top-notch playing that can only be envied by lesser ensembles. Exceptional recordings.”

International Record Review wrote: “The Westwood Wind Quintet has a standard of ensemble playing that is nothing short of breathtaking. The fundamental ensemble qualities…are something to be cherished, and (for some of us) to attempt to emulate.”

American Record Guide wrote: “The Westwood Wind Quintet [has been] for over 40 years one of the finest ensembles of its kind and the playing here certainly demonstrates that.”

Gramophone Magazine wrote: “Magnificent American group. Superlative playing.”

The International Double Reed Society Journal, Ron Klimko, Editor, wrote: “The Westwood Wind Quintet is one of the finest wind quintets in the world. I always enjoy hearing the Westwood Wind Quintet. Their performances, as well as their fine recording technique, never disappoints. With all those years of experience playing together, their ensemble is wonderfully precise, clear and always exciting. The latter characteristic of excitement is what I hear most in their performances again and again. Sure, the ‘polish’ is there, but never at the expense of excitement and an exuberance…when they play, the music truly comes alive!”

The Flutist Quarterly (Keith Pettway) wrote: “Wonderful sense of ensemble…It is seldom that one comes across a recording that with careful listening displays absolutely no major flaws, in performance or engineering. This is such a recording [Reicha vol. 11]. The players understand the music, each other, their instruments, and how they fit into the mix. The result is simply beautiful ensemble playing. The intonation is about as good as it gets when it comes to any chamber music.”

CD250: WOODWIND TREASURES -- Westwood Wind Quintet. August Klughardt, Quintet, op. 79; Luciano Berio, Opus Number Zoo; George Heussenstamm, Seven Etudes for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon; Boris Pillin, Scherzo; Robert Linn, Woodwind Quintet; Herman Stein, Sour Suite.   UPC 00941472502-8 ORDER NOW

    The Quintet by August Klughardt (1847-1902) is as close to Brahms as woodwind ensembles have. This is a lush, Romantic piece and this is the only recording of it. The other pieces were all first recordings and most are still the only recordings available.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer)Click on the link to hear approximately one minute of the movement shown.
Klughardt Quintet: Mvt 1(Allegro non troppo)  Mvt 2(Allegro Vivace)  Mvt3(Andante) Mvt 4(Adagio) Berio Opus Number Zoo: Tom Cats Grey Mouse Fawn Barn Dance Heussenstam Etudes:  Mvt 1(Andante)  Mvt 2(Allegro assai) Mvt 3(Allegretto)  Mvt 4(Larghetto)  Mvt 5(Allegro giocoso)  Mvt 6(Allegro)  Mvt 7(Moderato) Pillin: Scherzo Linn Quintet:  Mvt 1(Allegro) Mvt 2(Adagio)  Mvt 3(Allegro) Stein Sour Suite:  Parade Larry's Lullaby Bagatelle Lucky Seven-Eight

Click here for more information on the Reicha Woodwind Quintet series

CD264: Anton 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

“Each and every one [of the Reicha quintets] is a masterpiece of the highest order. Those who ignore this legacy are missing out not only on some terrific wind music but on some of the finest music ever penned.” Audiophile Audition

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown
Quintet in C Major, opus 91, no. 1: Allegro moderato/Andante/Tempo primo Andante Menuetto Rondo Finale Quintet in A Minor, opus 91, no. 2: Adagio/Allegro assai Andante Menuetto Finale

CD265:  Anton Reicha: Woodwind Quintets Vol 5: opus 91, nos. 3 & 4.  Westwood Wind Quintet
This is the second release in Crystal Records' series of Anton Reicha's monumental 24 woodwind quintets.  These are beautiful works, symphonic in scope.  Reicha (1770-1836) was a friend of Beethoven's and his writing illustrates the style of that period.  One of the most influential composers and teachers of the early 1800s, Reicha was Professor of Counterpoint and Fugue at the Paris Conservatory.  UPC 00941472652-0 ORDER NOW

    The Westwood Wind Quintet has recorded more than 15 albums in addition to the Reicha series, and has performed over 2000 concerts since its inception in 1959. The group has been called "a complete and completely satisfying musical experience" by legendary conductor Robert Shaw. Daniel Carriaga, writing in the Los Angeles Times about a concert of the Westwood Wind Quintet, said "An accumulation of instrumental polish and important repertory over a long period has resulted in a treasurable sense of ensemble and musical solidity."

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:  Anton Reicha: Woodwind Quintets Vol 6: opus 91, nos. 5 & 6.  Westwood Wind Quintet
This is the first release of a set of 12 CDs of Reicha's 24 woodwind quintets.  Reicha (1770-1836) was a friend of Beethoven's and was one of the most influential composers of his period. "The performances radiate affection for the music and technical virtuosity.  A high recommendation." Fanfare   UPC 00941472662-9 ORDER NOW

The Westwood Wind Quintet, extablished in 1959, has performed over 2000 concerts and recorded more than 15 albums, not including this Reicha series.

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: Anton Reicha, Woodwind Quintets Volume 7: opus 99, no.s 1 & 2. 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

According to the American Record Guide, "Reicha's wind quintets...probably always will be regarded as the summit and foundation of the literature...The Westwoood Wind Quintet is known far and wide to lovers of this sort of music." Gramophone Magazine has called the Westwood Wind Quintet a "magnificent American group" and the International Record Review said "The Westwood Wind Quintet has a standard of ensemble playing that is nothing short of breathtaking."

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

CD268: Anton Reicha, Woodwind Quintets vol. 8: op. 99, nos. 3 & 4. Westwood Wind Quintet.

This is the 7th release in the on-going series of 12 CDs of the 24 woodwind quintets by Anton Reicha. (released July 2009) The Westwood Wind Quintet has completed the recordings of all 24 quintets and Crystal Records will be releasing the rest of them as production is completed. Reicha (1770-1836) was one of the most respected composers of his time. He was a friend of Beethoven and Haydn, and was the teacher of Berlioz, Liszt, Gounod, and Franck. UPC 00941472682-7. ORDER NOW Click here for further information

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
reicha Quintet in A Major, opus 99, no. 3 Mvt. 1: Lento; Allegro Mvt. 2: Andante Mvt. 3: Menuetto. Allegro Mvt. 4: Finale. Allegro assai Quintet in D Major, opus 99, no. 4 Mvt. 1: Andante; Allegro spirituoso Mvt. 2: Poco lento Mvt. 3: Menuetto. Scherzo Mvt. 4. Finale. Allegro assai

CD269: Reicha Woodwind Quintets Vol 9: opus 99, Nos. 5 & 6. Westwood Wind Quintet

This is the fourth release in Crystal’s exciting project of recording the complete 24 Reicha Woodwind Quintets. The Westwood Wind Quintet has already recorded all 24 of these, 12 are now on CD, and we are expecting a new volume to be released every few months. UPC 00941472692-6   ORDER NOW

“Reicha’s 24 wind quintets have been and 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 sort of music.” American Record Guide

Fanfare has said of this series “only top-notch playing that can only be envied by lesser ensembles.” “The Westwood Wind Quintet has a standard of ensemble playing that is nothing short of breathtaking. [It is] something to be cherished.” International Record Review
“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

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.5 Mvt. 1(Andante/Allegro) Mvt. 2(Andante) Mvt. 3(Menuetto) Mvt. 4(Finale) Quintet in F Minor, opus 99, no.6 Mvt. 1(Andante/Allegro Poco Vivo) Mvt. 2(Air En Fantaisie. Andante) Mvt. 3(Menuetto) Mvt. 4(Finale)

CD270: ANTON REICHA, WOODWIND QUINTETS vol. 10: op. 100, nos. 1 & 2. Westwood Wind Quintet. UPC 00941472702-2. This is the 8th release in the on-going series of 12 CDs of the 24 woodwind quintets by Anton Reicha. The Westwood Wind Quintet has completed the recordings of all 24 quintets and Crystal Records will be releasing the rest of them as production is completed. Reicha (1770-1836) was one of the most respected composers of his time. He was a friend of Beethoven and Haydn, and was the teacher of Berlioz, Liszt, Gounod, and Franck. ORDER NOW Click here for further information

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 sort of music.” American Record Guide

"Each [Reicha Woodwind Quintet] is a masterpiece of the highest order. Those who ignore this legacy are missing out not only on some terrific wind music but on some of the finest music ever penned. These pieces are symphonies in miniature, not only in complexity but also in length – 40 minutes is not unusual." (Ritter, Audiophile Audition)
“Glorious quintets...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] players seek, find, and reveal the numerous qualities that have kept this repertoire alive for almost two centuries." Fanfare Magazine.

CD271:  Reicha: Woodwind Quintets Vol 11: opus 100, nos. 3 & 4.  Westwood Wind Quintet.
This is the sixth release in Crystal Records' series of Anton Reicha's 24 woodwind quintets.  (released Sept. 2008) UPC 00941472712-1 ORDER NOW Click here for further information

TheWestwood Wind Quintet has now recorded all 24 of the 24 quintets. Six CDs with 12 of the quintets are now available. The remainder will be released as production is completed, probably one CD every 3 or 4 months or so. Click here for further information

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Reicha Quintet Opus 100, No. 3 Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Mvt 4 Opus 100, No. 4 Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Mvt 4

“Each [Reicha Woodwind Quintet] is a masterpiece of the highest order. Those who ignore this legacy are missing out not only on some terrific wind music but on some of the finest music ever penned. These pieces are symphonies in miniature, not only in complexity but also in length – 40 minutes is not unusual.” Ritter, Audiophile Audition.

“These are glorious quintets…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. [It is] something to be cherished.” International Record Review.

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

“The definitive recording of these wonderful pieces…wonderful sense of ensemble this recording displays…beautiful ensemble playing.” Petttway, The Flutist Quarterly

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Reicha Quintet Opus 100, No. 3 Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Mvt 4 Opus 100, No. 4 Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Mvt 4

CD601: NIELSEN, HINDEMITH, SCHULHOFF  The Westwood Wind Quintet.  Carl Nielsen, Quintet,  op. 43;  Paul Hindemith, Kleine Kammermusik für fünf Bläser, op.24, no. 2;  Erwin Schulhoff, Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, & Bassoon.  UPC 00941476012-8 ORDER NOW
High Fidelity Magazine, speaking of this recording of Nielsen and Hindemith Quintets, wrote "Extraordinary tone quality. The Westwood performers manifest a technical finesse and a richness of tone that one would normally expect only from a solo concerto artist. I cannot imagine a better performance than the one given here by the Westwood Wind Quintet."

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Nielsen: Quintet Mvt 1 (Allegro Ben Moderato) Mvt 2(Menuet) Mvt 3 (Praeludium & Theme and Variations)
Hindemith: Kleine Kammermusik Mvt 1 (Lustig, Massig schnelle Viertel) Mvt 2 (Walzer, Durchweg sehr leise) Mvt 3 (Ruhig und einfach.
Achtel) Mvt 4 (Schnelle Viertel) Mvt 5 (Sehr lebhaft) Schulhoff: Divertissement Mvt 1 (Ouverture) Mvt 2 (Burlesca) Mvt 3 (Romanzero) Mvt 4
(Charleston) Mvt 5 (Tema con Variazioni e fugato) Mvt 6 (Florida) Mvt 7 (Rondino-Finale)

CD647: Viola and the Winds. James Dunham, Viola; Westwood Wind Quintet; Jack Sanders, Guitar.  Gustav Holst, Terzetto for Flute, Oboe, & Viola; Jerzy Sapieyevski, Concerto for Viola and Winds; Anthony Plog, Four Miniatures for Viola and Wind Quintet; Karl Kohn, Colla Voce for Viola and Guitar.    UPC 00941476472-0ORDER NOW
James Dunham was violist with the Grammy Award winning Cleveland Quartet. He presently teaches at the Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. The Westwood Wind Quintet, founded in 1959, has performed thousands of concerts and has been described as "probably the best group of this kind anywhere."   (New Orleans Courier)

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Sapieyevski: Concerto Holst Terzetto:  Mvt 1(Allegretto)  Mvt 2(Un poco vivace) Plog Miniatures:  Mvt 1(Pastoral)  Mvt 2(Toccata)  Mvt 3(Chorale)  Mvt 4(Allegro) Kohn: Colla Voce

CD750:  WESTWOOD WIND QUINTET. Samuel Barber:  Summer Music;   Gyorgi Ligeti:  Six Bagatelles;   William Mathias:  Quintet;   Mark Carlson:  Nightwings (tape & woodwind quintet).   "Magnificent American group.  Superlative playing...a recording which, equally good in tone-quality, balance and clarity, can also be described as superlative."  Gramophone Magazine (London)   UPC 00941477502-3 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer)Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Ligeti Bagatelles:   Allegro Rubato Allegro Presto Adagio Molto Vivace Barber: Summer Music Mathias: Quintet Mvt 1(Intro and March) Mvt 2(Waltz) Mvt 3(Scherzo) Mvt 4(Elegy) Mvt 5(Recitative and Dance) Carlson: Nightwings

CD751: WESTWOOD WIND QUINTET. Ingolf Dahl, Allegro and Arioso; Karel Husa, Serenade for Piano and Wind Quintet; Jerzy Sapieyevski, Arioso for Trumpet and Wind Quintet; Louis Moyse, Quintet.  With Lisa Bergman, piano; Richard Pressley, trumpet.  "..an accumulation of instrumental polish & important repertory over a long period has resulted in a treasurable sense of ensemble and musical solidity."   Los Angeles Times   "As usual, the Westwood Wind Quintet plays with spirit, finesse, polish, and magnificent articulation. Very fine recording."  Fanfare.  UPC 00941477512-2ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Dahl: Allegro and Arioso Husa Serenade:  Mvt 1(La Montagne)   Mvt 2(La Nuit)   Mvt 3(La Danse) Sapieyevski: Arioso Moyse: Quintet Mvt 1(Allegro) Mvt 2(Poco Lento) Mvt 3(Presto) Mvt 4(Allegro molto vivo)

CD752: WESTWOOD WIND QUINTET.  Bergsma, Concerto for Wind Quintet; Rochberg, To the Dark Wood; Carter, Woodwind Quintet 1948; Biggs, Scherzo; Plog, Animal Ditties; Schuller, Suite; Schuman, Dances for Woodwind Quintet and Percussion with Matthew Kocmieroski, percussion.   "A feast of ...virtuoso music for winds. Performances are excellent."  In-Tune Magazine. "A superb performing group; first-rate in every way."   Washington D.C. Sunday Star   UPC 00941477522-1 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer)Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Bergsma Concerto:  Mvt 1(Allegro)  Mvt 2(Andante)  Mvt 3(Allegro assai) Rochberg:  To the Dark Wood Carter Quintet: Mvt 1(Allegretto) Mvt 2 Niggs: Scherzo Plog: Animal Ditties Mvt 1(Osterich) Mvt 2(Guppies) Mvt 3(Canary) Mvt 4(Kangaroo) Mvt 5(Fly) Schuller: Suite Prelude Blues Toccata Schuman: Dances

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