MUSIC FOR WOODWIND QUINTET
Contemporary Wind Quintet Music
The woodwind quintet — flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn — is one of the most versatile and colorful chamber‑music ensembles. Its unique blend of timbres allows for brilliant virtuosity, lyrical writing, and rich harmonic textures. While the classical repertoire is extensive, contemporary wind‑quintet music continues to expand through new commissions, competitions, and innovative works by modern composers.
This page presents Lior Navok’s Six Short Stories for woodwind quintet alongside a curated selection of contemporary repertoire, offering performers a resource for exploring new music for this dynamic ensemble.
SIX SHORT STORIES
for woodwind quintet
Duration:
12 minutes
Instrumentation:
flute / piccolo, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon
Year Composed:
1996
Premiere Performance:
11 May, 1997
Boston, MA, USA
NEC Honors Woodwind Quintet
Stephanie Mortimore, flute/piccolo
Izumi Nishizawa, oboe
Michelle Montone, clarinet
Minako Taguchi, bassoon
Daniel Shaud, horn
Professional Premiere Performance:
13 April, 1998
Normal, IL, USA
Sonneris Woodwind Quintet
Kim Risinger, flute/piccolo
Judith Dicker, oboe
Aris Chavez, clarinet
Michael Dicker, bassoon
Joe Neisler, horn
Program Notes
The woodwind quintet is among my favorite mediums: the distinct personality of each musical instrument, alongside the harmonious blend achievable, has long sparked my imagination. The titles of the movements reflect my own interpretations and associations with each piece: The First portrays five friends gathering to play together, with one arriving late. The Second is inspired by a native ceremonial dance. The Third reminds me of a gentle breeze on a summer night, sitting on the porch. The Fourth describes a person mesmerized by fire flames, swayed like a marionette by the wind. The Fifth evokes a memory that alternates between sinking and floating, and finally, a conversation on "how a fugue should sound." However, these interpretations are solely mine. I encourage listeners to find their own connections and create their own stories.
Movements:
1. The Meeting
2. Native Dance
3. Air
4. Fire Dance
5. Longing (Sinking and Floating Memory)
6. 1+1=11 (Introduction and Fughetta)
Abstract
Six Short Stories is a vivid, character‑driven work that explores the full expressive range of the woodwind quintet. Each movement presents a distinct musical scene, shifting between humor, lyricism, rhythmic energy, and atmospheric color. The piece highlights both the individuality of each instrument and the ensemble’s ability to blend into a unified, flexible sound world.
Audio
Score - Video
Score Sample
Score of Six Short Stories for Woodwind Quintet
About the Woodwind Quintet
The modern woodwind quintet emerged in the early 19th century and has since become one of the most established chamber‑music ensembles. Its instrumentation — flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn — offers a wide spectrum of colors, from bright and agile to warm and resonant.
Contemporary composers continue to expand the ensemble’s possibilities through extended techniques, rhythmic innovation, and new approaches to blend and texture. Today, the wind quintet is a central part of chamber‑music programming in conservatories, festivals, and professional ensembles worldwide.
Contemporary Wind Quintet Repertoire List
György Ligeti — Six Bagatelles (1953)
A virtuosic, iconic 20th-century work utilizing a restricted pitch-class system to create high-energy, contrasting miniatures of immense character.
Samuel Barber — Summer Music, Op. 31 (1956)
An evocative, cornerstone work that captures shifting summer moods through lyrical lines, lush harmonies, and colorful woodwind textures.
Paul Hindemith — Kleine Kammermusik No. 2, Op. 24 (1922)
A vital early-modern work that helped define the quintet genre through its dry wit, motoric rhythms, and neoclassical clarity.
Carl Nielsen — Wind Quintet, Op. 43 (1922)
A monumental masterpiece of the repertoire, famously written to portray the individual personalities and instrumental characteristics of five friends.
Malcolm Arnold — Three Shanties, Op. 4 (1943)
A humorous, energetic staple that uses traditional sea shanties to showcase the technical dexterity and playful spirit of the ensemble.
Jean Françaix — Wind Quintet No. 1 (1948)
A witty, elegant mid-century quintet exemplifying the French school with its transparent textures, rhythmic precision, and lighthearted brilliance.
Lior Navok — Six Short Stories (1996)
A 12-minute contemporary suite where six distinct movements explore character-driven narratives and the unique tonal colors of the ensemble.
Darius Milhaud — La cheminée du roi René (1939)
A charming, seven-movement suite inspired by medieval court life, blending simple melodies with sophisticated, colorful French harmonic writing.
Anton Reicha — Woodwind Quintet in E-flat Major (1818)
A foundational work from the "father of the wind quintet," essential for its classical structure and balanced instrumental roles.
Jacques Ibert — Trois pièces brèves (1930)
A concise, delightful set of miniatures that has become one of the most frequently performed works in the entire repertoire.