Timm Wind Quintet

WIND WORKS AND NEW WILSON OVERTURE FEATURED IN SCHROEDER HALL CONCERT

An evening of varied and entertaining wind music was performed in Schroeder Hall Oct. 30 with two sterling wind groups (A la Wind Power Concert Series), each in their unique genre of brass and woodwind quintet music.

Leading off the program were the virtuosic trumpet players Dave Scott and Daniel Gianola-Norris, hornist Ruth Wilson, and Anthony Collins and Scott Thornton, trombones. Contemporary music was the theme of the evening beginning with Lutoslawski’s Mini Overture, a rhythmic percussive pulsating palette of color and fold melodies.

Karel Husa’s Divertimento followed, each of the four movements a traditional form of fast, slow, medium fast tempi that always generated lush sounds and bell qualities so perfect for these instruments. Choral singing could be used as a quality displayed in the melodious voices of the work. The playing had lovely tone and warm sound, not brash or bright but balanced and blended.

The Klezmer set for Brass was an arrangement by SSU faculty composer Brian Wilson and was delightfully entertaining, especially when the group shouted “Oye” amidst a particularly tumultuous passage. The comedic relief is a trademark of Mr. Wilson whose musical compositions are well known and often conducted by him.

Of special interest for this group was the guest third trombonist which is normally a tuba part in a brass quintet. Mr. Thornton is a regular member of the San Francisco Opera/Ballet Orchestra, and his intonation, tone, phrasing, and rhythmic solidity gave this group much presence and stability. The one unplanned moment was when his spit valve fell off the instrument between movements, allowing for time to present jokes to the audience while he stuck gum or other plug to allow the completion of the program. A fitting note to the brass portion of the concert.

The Timm Quintet was at Schroeder on a tail end of their tour from Baton Rouge to Orange County. The faculty members of the Louisiana State University were all masters at their instruments, and included Katherine Kemler, flute; Johanna Cox, oboe; Deboraqh Chodacki, clarinet; Darrel Hale, bassoon; and Seth Orgel, horn. They performed with ease in their delivery of challenging and provocative music.

Ensembles like these can easily sound unbalanced when the performers do not know their role in demanding music. Not here. We heard a talented knowledgeable and musical ensemble which fulfilled all the requirements of exceptional chamber music playing. Listening, dropping softer than the main melodic element while matching partners in accompaniment were all present. Such a treat!

Virtuosic and expressive, clean clear ensemble, range, colors of all kinds emanated from the Timm as they performed select movements from the full program, starting with the third and fourth movements from Endre Szervanszky’s Quintet. The Andante was a fine example of European song and harmony from the era of just after WW II. The Allegro Vivace gave each player and opportunity to display virtuosic technique. Really fun is another description.

Their second selection was Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles, and the spirited and playful melodies were ideal for the ensemble and allowed the musical singing and technical challenges to be easily and beautifully performed.

“Klezmer Overture” of Mr. Wilson ended the Timm’s program, and the composer pulled together his ancestral experiences for a tour of spirited and pleasing melodies. His work actually was challenging to the ear but accessible for the audience composed mostly of students and faculty from the University. Mr. Wilson explained to the audience how he never uses sonata form but did here with brilliance in many fantastic musical ideas and motifs. At times I thought of the Sea Chanties of Malcolm Arnold and other similar European composers.

Sponsored by the SSU Music Department, the concert was a success in its format with provocative works that drew the audience in and tickled the ear with brilliance and wit. Mr. Wilson introduced the concert the statement “don’t relax, engage,” and the audience and musicians did just that.