The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Wind Quintet

Albert Roussel did not begin studying music until he was an adult, which is quite unusual. He was a member of the French Navy before he decided to focus on music, and he eventually taught Erik Satie, among others. Roussel’s rhythmically vital Divertissement for Wind Quintet and Piano is from 1906 – a piece one might describe as leaving the post-Romantic era behind.

Roussel also taught Bohuslav Martinu. Martinu left Czechoslovakia for Paris in 1923, at which point he too gave up the Romantic style to begin composing music in a more Expressionist spirit. His sextet from 1929 was inspired by jazz, Surrealism, Stravinsky and Czech folk music.

Mélanie Bonis’ Sonata for Flute and Piano is from 1904, when she was 46 years old and in the middle of a successful career.

Hear musicians from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra perform these French-tinted pieces. They will also present a sextet by Dresden-born Theodor Blumer, a theme with variations from 1921 that include Romance, Humoresque and Slavic dances. Blumer likely played piano in this piece himself, together with the Dresden Woodwind Quintet.