Wind music has a long tradition. Among us, we know it well from the military bands and philharmonic bands born out of the associative movements of the 19th century. But it has a much wider reach and dates back centuries. First, in festive or ceremonial contexts. Then, at the end of the classical period, to meet the “new taste” of the manor houses that gravitated around the Habsburgs in Vienna. These groups, called Harmonie, played transcriptions of excerpts from operas and orchestral works at informal gatherings. Composers as illustrious as Haydn also took advantage of these sounds. This program opens with a “Divertimento” of his; with pairs of oboes, bassoons and horns accompanied by a double bass. More than 200 years later, in 1982, Jean Françaix added a trumpet to the line-up to evoke Haydn himself in eleven variations on the theme of the Surprise Symphony. George Enescu had preferred to add two flutes instead, in 1906, to bring out the influence of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Winds of Paris
Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra

J. Haydn Divertimento a 6, Hob.II:3
J. Françaix Eleven Variations on a Theme by Haydn
G. Enescu Wind Decet

Lurdes Carneiro musical direction

Photography: Lurdes Carneiro (c)Marcelo Albuquerque