We are now approaching the halfway point in the Westwood Quintet’s ongoing Reicha series, one of great significance to label founder Peter Christ (oboist in the quintet) as it represents only the second complete outing for these works. Woodwind quintets are not thought about that much, even among seasoned collectors, except for perhaps a handful of issues like the Nielsen and Barber works. A composer like Reicha, who gave the quintet form not only legitimacy but also an infused content of superb musical worth, gets ignored except for a few releases of individual pieces. In actuality there are 24 of these quintets (25 to be exact with one outside the normal canon) and each and every one is a masterpiece of the highest order. Those who ignore this legacy are missing out not only on some terrific wind music but on some of the finest music ever penned. These pieces are symphonies in miniature, not only in complexity but also in length—40 minutes is not unusual.
The Albert Schweitzer Quintet has issueed a noteworthy complete set on CPO, and the Michael Thompson Quintet seems to be embarking on one on Naxos, though it is proceeding slowly; I cannot imagine Naxos not finishing it. I have sampled all three, and would not want to be without the Albert Schweitzer, but this new one on Crystal is completely different in tone and philosophy as regards tempos and other interpretative indications, and the playing, using “just” intonation instead of the more common “tempered”, makes for some interesting sounds (and can actually sound out of tune on first hearing, but the ears adjust after a while), and is well worth hearing. The set will be a milestone for a composer that needs milestones. If you are collecting this series, you can certainly continue with confidence, and all others would do well to dip their hands into Reicha’s clean waters.
— Steven Ritter
