Wind Quintets

American composer David Maslanka (born in 1943) may be a new acquaintance to many of you. But the material he uses as inspiration will be easily identified by all. In these three wind quintets - written between 1984 and 1999 - Maslanka builds on for instance Bach chorales (Quintet No.3), bird calls and the New York City subway system (Quintet No.1). The familiarity with which he uses and blends various musical languages and features could almost be called postmodern and as stated in the liner notes his style "is characterized by a very contemporary blend of heartfelt lyricism and rhythmic drive, coupled with an uncanny and remarkable ear for musical sonorities." This intriguing music is given an informed performance by the Bergen Woodwind Quintet, remembered by BIS-fans of long standing for their recordings of Carl Nielsen's complete works for wind ensemble (BIS-CD-428) as well as music by Samuel Barber, Paul Hindemith, André Jolivet and Harald Sæverud (BIS-CD-291).