Quintet (2009) for Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass
Clarinet, and Bassoon Kirk O’Riordan (b. 1968) I. delicate, serene
II. lightly, with energy III. cadenza: freely, espressivo IV.
legato sempre; allegro con spirito For the EastWind Ensemble: Mary
Ashley Barret, Oboe Anthony Taylor, Clarinet Steven Stusek,
Saxophone Kelly Burke, Bass Clarinet Michael Burns, Bassoon
Duration: Approximately 15 minutes. Notes In the past century, the
traditional Woodwind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and
Bassoon) has been established as a viable compositional medium. A
great deal of interesting music has been composed for the ensemble,
with more new pieces composed every year. It is certainly, though,
not an easy ensemble to compose for: balance and tone issues
challenge the composer in ways that are not as evident in ensembles
of like instruments (string quartet, saxophone quartet, etc.). This
ensemble, however, strikes a good balance between color variation
and unity. That each instrument produces sound with a reed (or two)
makes the differences in timbre and projection less stark. In
composing for this ensemble, I wanted to explore the colors and
nuances that this group of instruments could create, but I wanted
to accomplish that with limitations on pitch material and form: the
first and second movements are constructed from the same six
pitches, and the final two are constructed almost exclusively from
perfect fifths. Each movement is elided, from last pitch to first,
and the final movement recalls the first. The Quintet was completed
in July, 2009, and is dedicated to the EastWind Ensemble.
