Ensemble Q »
ReviewsPlease click for a review of our CD untoldPlease click for a review of our cd disc one and of a recital given at Blackheath Concert Halls, London March 2003, by Dr Peter Grahame Woolf disc one "At the first of the Harrogate Festival's young musician's concerts in Christ Church the next day everything was mercifully in order and perfectly audible. Quintessence, a dedicated and promising wind quintet, had prepared an intelligently varied programme with evident care and made extra-special efforts with a new work by Philip Cashian. Commissioned for the occasion and inspired by a line from a poem by Kevin Crossley-Holland, among the bleached stars and suns, is scored for bass flute, woodwind trio and off stage horn." "Whatever Cashian was trying to do with the trio in the fairly arid central section of the piece, the blending and gradual etiolating of bass flute and off stage horn colours at the end were most sensitively and effectively executed." International Festival Harrogate 2000 Gerald Larner The Times "The brilliant young wind quintet gave superbly assured accounts of modern classics by Nielsen and Hindemith, and more notable novelty by a young composer worth watching, Tansy Davies. A full house of enthusiastic supporters helped to tame the Space's lively accoustic - ensemble and tonal blend were uncommonly satisfying. The Space, London 1998, Dr Peter Grahame Woolf The Guide" "A delightful recording of music for wind quintet... Susie Hodder-Williams' elegant flute playing is finely matched by oboeist Rebecca Wood, and the woody and rounded clarinet tone provides a solid point of balance between the upper woodwinds and the gutsy horn and bassoon…although the individual musical personalities of the five performers are always evident, this is seldom to the detriment of the ensemble as a whole..the music is admirably suited to the energy in their playing." "Quintessence have entitled this CD Disc One, which seems to indicate that there will be more recordings to look forward to. Until then, lovers of wind quintet music must make the most of what this disc has to offer. And any quintets who feel their performance or repertoire is getting a little tired and stale could do worse than to listen to this recording for fresh inspiration." Quintessence disc one Laurence Joyce Pan Magazine The testimonial button is inactive.
RepertoireWorks marked with • have been commissioned by Ensemble Q Repertoire - current
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OutreachEnsemble Q offers a variety of workshops tailored to each individual situation. These range from a 1 hour performance and introduction of the music and instruments through to an intensive composition themed project over 1 - 4 days, resulting in a large group world première.
Ensemble Q has experience in leading inspirational workshops in schools, universities, music colleges and the wider community. They also enjoy working with young composers exploring new possibilities for the wind quintet, at GCSE level, A level, International Baccalaureate and in universities and music colleges.
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Ensemble Q, originally Quintessence, was formed in 1995 for the first wind chamber music course at the Britten-Pears of Advanced Musical Studies. Since then, they have quickly become one of the most exciting and innovative wind quintets in Britain. Their continually growing commissioning ventures, place them as one of the foremost contributors to new British Music. Over the past few years they have commissioned works from some of the leading British composers. Among them, Tansy Davies, Philip Cashian, Mike Westbrook, and Joe Duddell.
- Susie Hodder-Williams (piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute)
- Emma Feilding (oboe, cor anglais, oboe d'amore)
- Stuart King clarinet
- Jose Lluna (french horn)
- Jo Turner (bassoon, contra bassoon)
- Chris Walters (bass clarinet)
- Fiona Ritchie (percussion)
Recitals In 1996 Ensemble Q returned to Aldeburgh giving a recital at the Aldeburgh Festival and since then they have played at a wide range of music clubs and festivals, and been broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Following the Harrogate International Music Festival, The Times music critic wrote of their "intelligently varied programming... most sensitively and effectively executed".
Workshops Ensemble Q is committed to leading inspirational workshops in schools, universities, music colleges and the wider community. They enjoy working with young composers exploring new possibilities for the wind quintet. Future projects include a tour to Taiwan to promote new British Music, a new commission from the Manchester based composer Ian Vine, and the release of their second CD of contemporary music, which will include many of the works commissioned since 2000. Quintessence is grateful for recent support from the British Council, the Performing Rights Society and the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust.
Ensemble Q's web profile was last updated 19th May 2012