CD Review

by Lowry Riggins
Monroe, Louisiana


Quintette Moragues - Auvidis Valois V 4639; AD/100 57''42

Gyorgy Ligeti (né en 1923), Six Bagatelles

Bagatelle no 1 (1'08)
Bagatelle no 2 (3'24)
Bagatelle no 3 (2'16)
Bagatelle no 4 (0'56)
Bagatelle no 5 (2'26)
Bagatelle no 6 (1'23)

Hector Villa-Lobos (1887-1959), Quintette en forme de Choros

Samuel Barber, Summer Music op. 31

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963), Kleine Kammermusik op. 24 no 2

Kleine Kammermusik I
Kleine Kammermusik 11
Kleine Kammermusik III
Kleine Kammermusik IV
Kleine Kammermusik V

Karlheinz Stockhausen (né en 1928), Adieu, no 21

Michel Moragues, flûte
David Walter, hautbois
Pascal Moragues, clarinette
Pierre Moragues, cor
Patrick Vilaire, basson

The Quintette Moragues is still together and still producing excellent results. This CD is composed of works from 1922 to 1966, but all still sound amazingly contemporary and fun. Though I may not agree one hundred percent with the interpretation or even the choice of works, I can not really argue about it. The results are musical, enjoyable, and well done.

The Ligeti Bagatelles are great studies in miniature, each being a differing gem for us to delight in until the next gem is shown. It is a great six-pack of short extras.

The Villa-Lobos never sounds as tough as it really is, and this group makes it sound as if everyone is perfectly at home with everyone else's line. The "ins and outs" of the various lines are accomplished without attention from the listener.

Samuel Barber left us all a jewel in this wonderful work and the Quintette Moragues has obviously studied the various parts of this piece as well as the whole.

I have always felt that the Hindemith was more fun playing than listening. I still have that opinion, though it is enjoyable because we all know the parts, the difficulties, and various problems of putting it together.

I did not know the Stockhausen so this one was new to my ears. Bending of tones, wild "harmony," studies in long tones, and other typical characteristics of this type music are here. Since I'm older, probably not wiser, but certainly being more choosy about how I use my remaining time, I will let the one listening do for me.

A nice touch to this CD is that the program notes on the works are in several languages. For those of you building a collection of woodwind quintet recordings, this CD will be a nice addition. Funny, I find I "LISTEN" to more music since I retired from playing!


Table of Contents