Ceora Winds – “Postcards” = works of many composers for flute, clarinet, bassoon & percussion – Ceora Winds

by | Dec 30, 2014 | Classical CD Reviews

Ceora Winds, “Postcards” = MAT MATSUMUNE: Les Tisserandes; MIGUEL BERNAL JIMENEZ: Carteles; AMY JO DUELL (completed by ENRIQUE GONZALEZ-MEDINA): Prairie Dawn; JENNI BRANDON: Spider Suite; ROBERT MUCZYNSKI: Fragments; LEE MORGAN: Ceora; SILVESTRE REVUELTAS: Cinco Canciones para Ninos; ASTOR PIAZZOLA: Oblivion; ANGEL GREGORIO VILLOLDO: El Choclo; RICHARD RODGERS/LORENZ HART: My Funny Valentine; RAY PIZZI: Doodley-Doo; Linguine  – Ceora Winds (Michelle Matsumune, flute/ Heather Millette, clarinet/ Christin Webb, bassoon/T.J. Troy, percussion/ Melissa Chalsma, actor – Ceora Winds independent, 59:13 (4/17/14) ****:

I am much more familiar with the repertoire for wind quintet than I am that written for wind trio; in this case, flute, clarinet and bassoon. I also admit I rather prefer the “fuller” sound that is had by including a horn and an oboe. None the less, this is a very entertaining collection of works that are probably not well known and are certainly played well by the ladies of the Ceora Winds.

My favorite work here was easily the Spider Suite by Jenni Brandon. I have played Brandon’s quintet work, Frogs, many times and all of her music that I have heard, including the Spider Suite is clever, playful and has a wonderful child-like theme to it.

I felt similarly about the Cinco Canciones para Ninos (Five Songs for Children) by Silvestre Revueltas; arranged for the present combination by the Trio Alientos Revueltas. The five movements are alternately playful and dreamlike and alltogether attractive.

I have heard much of Robert Muczynski’s music and admired it for quite some time. I found the five movement Fragments very rewarding also and it contains some of the harmonic progressions and picturesque nature that characterizes many of his scores.

I found all the other works in this set very pleasant and nice to listen to but not as compelling as the works mentioned above. Special mention goes to the recitation by Melissa Chalsma of the Cather poem Prairie Dawn, with music by Amy Jo Duell (left unfinished and completed by Enrique Gonzalez-Medina.) It is a strong work that could perhaps be longer. Some kudos as well for the two very brief but rather amusing trios by Ray Pizzi with the charming titles of Doodley-Doo and Linguine.

I think this album would appeal the most to woodwind players looking for some new and fun repertoire. I think almost anyone would get enjoyment from this, though, and the performances are quite good.

—Daniel Coombs

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