Wind quartet’s tour de force wins audience acclaim

Perth Chamber Music received a fantastic concert in St John’s Kirk, Perth, from the accomplished Cavendish Winds. The five players of this wind quintet, in response to the acclaim from the audience, praised the clarity with warmth of the venue.

Franz Danzi’s pioneering Quintet in g minor began the evening. Danzi had written the piece giving each instrument its fair share and the Cavendish Winds were strong both in blend and in outstanding individual character.

Malcolm Arnold’s Three Shanties were a brilliant tour de force for the Quintet: wit and humour, turning the well known tunes into a tango, a waltz and a rumba, and genuine pathos in the slow central movement.

Piazzolla’s Libertango had aggression and passion in its tumultuous start and was truly, as their introduction said, excitement leading up to the interval.

Gyögy Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles were a colourful start to the second half. Cavendish Winds again had remarkable polish and sound, each of the five instruments superbly and characterfully played.

Their final piece was/is probably the greatest piece written for five wind instruments: Nielsen’s Wind Quintet. The Cavendish Winds were each adept at lending their technical strengths to individual characters portrayed. Innocence and quirkiness held together the span of the first movement. The duets were beautifully done in the rustic Minuet, the horn showing a linking poise. In the final variations the group had both a brilliant combined scherzo and striking individual contributions.

It was a magnificent piece superbly performed.