Programme Note WHIRLS´ WORLD (1970) for wind quintet. 'Whirl´s World' was composed in 1970 as one of a series of works which explored the so-called musical ´difference-phenomenon´. This term (which I coined in connection with a series of lectures in California that year) indicates a motivic duplicity in which two - often very simple - melodic ideas come ´out of phrase´ with each other giving rise to a course of constantly changing conditions. In Whirl´s World the difference phenomenon is heard from the beginning where a three-note motif and a four-note motif are set against each other. It all proceeds lake a lightning-fast series of chess moves; first notenumber 1 of the three-note motif is moved then note number 1 of the four-note motif thereafter note number 2 of the three-note motif - and so on. This fast opening flows into a slow section in which the differences now appear as ´fluctuations´ between very closely related tones (of which one is sung by the musician). There is only one movement built up as an organic growth from slow to furiously fast whirling and back again to slow which can be heard as ´slow-motion whirls´ as a water-world of ripples and bubbles. All this is framed by the introduction described above and a corresponding conclusion in which the movement is now descending ending in the resolute bass full-stop. Per Norgård

French pianist conductor and composer Jean-Michel Damase (1928-2013) was composing by the age of nine. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire under many significant professors and won the 1947 Prix de Rome. 17 Variations for Wind Quintet is no exception to the composer's success. Damase is remembered for tackling every genre of music in order to bring further elegance to the tradition of French music. Frequently played in concerts 17 Variations for Wind Quintet is a charming work for an advanced quintet containing a Flute Clarinet Oboe Bassoon and French Horn. For all aspiring advanced Wind Quintets Damase's 17 Variations is an exciting addition to the ensemble's repertoire.

Score and five parts (Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon Horn).Moderate level of difficulty.Night on Bald Mountain depicts a witches’ sabbath on St. John’s Day the night between 23 and 24 June. Its sections present the infernal noise of ghostly voices the chattering and quarrelling of witches the appearance of ghosts the dance of witches and demons the appearance of Satan the adoration and Black Mass and finally the pealing bells of the village church announcing the break of day and thus the end of the witches’ sabbath.Whether intentionally or not Mussorgsky actually finished the work on the eve of St. John’s Day (23 June1867) after spending twelve days on its composition. Technically speaking Joachim Linckelmann’s exciting version for Wind Quintet is the arrangement of an arrangement as Mussorgsky’s symphonic poem is almost invariably heard in the familiar version by Rimsky-Korsakov.

Carl Nielsen's Wind Quintet Op.43 (1922) for Flute Oboe Clarinet French Horn and Bassoon.Parts available: WH30739A