The web site of the Jerusalem Music Centre is a treasure trove of demo CDs and live recordings of new talent in classical music. There’s lots of music to listen to and the biggest problem is where to start first. Being a clarinetist, I was immediately drawn to the Demo CD for the New Israel Woodwind Quintet. There are three exceptional works and all are played with an unique delicacy and crispness that only a woodwind ensemble can deliver.

Beethoven’s “String Quintet Op 4 in E flat Major” is transcribed for woodwinds which was a common procedure for earlier works created before the advent of the woodwind quintet. Purists need not worry as the musicians treat the masterpiece with the respect it deserves.

Gyorgy Ligeti’s “Six Bagatelles” from 1951 and 1953 are brief pieces that were originally written for piano but later transcribed by the composer for woodwind quintet. While dissonant and sparse, these works offers a lot of ideas within their short durations and are immensely listenable. Those who claim to dislike contemporary classical music may find these six compositions to be enlightening.

“Quintet Opus Number Zoo” by Luciano Berio is for wind quintet and voice. While not as ponderous as Berio’s later works, there is a odd disbalance between frivolity and cacophony. The arrangement is reminiscent of Stravinsky’s wind octet while the combination of half spoken and half sung voice and winds reminds me of Schoenberg. I’m not that fond of Berio but this is interesting.

The album is available in 128kbps MP3. Make sure you check out the other recordings at the web site. I’m sure I’ll be featuring several of them in the future.

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