COMPOSERS: Strauss
LABELS: Philips
WORKS: Serenade for Wind Instruments, Op. 7; Suite in B flat for 13 Wind Instruments, Op. 4; Symphony for Wind Instruments (The Happy Workshop)
PERFORMER: Wind Soloists of the CO of Europe/Heinz Holliger
CATALOGUE NO: 438 933-2 DDD
This collection represents three- quarters of Strauss’s works for wind ensemble and all are superbly played. The Serenade and Suite, both for 13 instruments, are youthful works (1881 and 1884 respectively), while the Symphony was written towards the end of his career (1944). This is a substantial work lasting almost forty minutes, scored for 16 instruments. Balance and intonation are critical factors in these pieces and the COE is impeccable in both. Tim Payne
Strauss: Serenade for Wind Instruments, Op. 7; Suite in B flat for 13 Wind Instruments, Op. 4; Symphony for Wind Instruments (The Happy Workshop)
This collection represents three- quarters of Strauss’s works for wind ensemble and all are superbly played. The Serenade and Suite, both for 13 instruments, are youthful works (1881 and 1884 respectively), while the Symphony was written towards the end of his career (1944). This is a substantial work lasting almost forty minutes, scored for 16 instruments. Balance and intonation are critical factors in these pieces and the COE is impeccable in both. Tim Payne
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:11 pm