Hits of 1875

How could you not love a concert with this title, the Hits of 1875.  I was looking forward to this one.  It was the Aeolus Wind Quartet.  I've played with them all, in NCO and MdCC.  They all feature in the woodwinds of the National Capital Orchestra (and, FYI, the woodwinds are held in high regard by the strings).  Aeolus comprises flute, clarinet and bassoon and they've been around for 40 years.  They played some Quantz and Berlioz and Verdi and Milhaud, so there was a modern and playful edge to the classical, but they also played Londonberry air (=Danny Boy) and Campdown races and a touch of jazz with Swingin' Molly (Cockles and mussels...) and even Bach goes to sea which is a take on the Popeye theme, otherwise known as the Sailors' hornpipe.  So it was a mixed bag, as is necessary for a performing band  and with some very informative intros from Dave.  So what of the sound?  It's so different.  The pitches and tones are varied so they remain quite distinct.  The bassoon with its confident blurt at the bottom and the flute with its flightly firmness at top were super distinct.  Just perhaps the midrangy clarinet in the middle could more easily get lost.  But the competence and the interplay were fabulous, all the harmonies and repetitions at diverse pitches and counterpoints, all done with wonderful skill and awareness of the nature of otherwise simple tunes.  For this didn't end up simple, even if the folk originals were.  This was rich: a composite work of three parts in playful interaction.  So, this one was no let down.  Loved this one.  PS. Wikipedia states Aeolus was the name of three characters  in Greek mythology, but you'll probably find him on the Net blowing wind as the Keeper of the winds.

The Aeolus Wind Trio comprise Jodie Petrov (flute), Lis Hoorweg (clarinet) and David Whitbread (bassoon).  They played at Wesley.