A quintet of players perform a varied programme that will delight lovers of classical and modern classical music

Cassiopeia Winds is an Irish chamber wind ensemble formed in 2010, whose performances are marked by vivacity, panache and a dedication to the exploration of fine sound-worlds. Though the ensemble has the capacity to expand or contract to suit its innovative programming, at its core is a quintet of players whose members are among the finest in the country, including players from the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Crash Ensemble.

The ensemble aims with each performance to run the full and varied gamut of the wind repertoire from 19th-century to contemporary works, including Danzi, Reicha, Barber, Hindemith, Poulenc, Francaix, Ibert, Nielsen, Ligeti and Arvo Part. Their concerts represent the startling originality and exoticism, and the inimitable palette of tone colours of the wind ensemble. They have a dedication to bringing the lesser-known works of this repertoire into the Irish and international concert halls and festivals.

The ensemble also has a great interest in contemporary music and in supporting the work of new Irish composers, and intend to commission new works for wind quintet for performance in Ireland and internationally. The Quintet gave the first performance of a new work by Sean O’Callaghan in 2014 and has commissioned a new work from John Buckley which received its premier at a Contemporary Music Centre Salon in October 2015 followed by five performances on tour around Ireland in the autumn/winter of 2015/16.

Cassiopeia Winds has a passion for collaborating with other artists, such as renowned pianist Finghin Collins. Recent concerts include a weekend of performances at the Galway Midwinter Festival where they collaborated with the ConTempo Quartet, and a weekend of concerts as part of the 2014 New Ross Piano Festival. In New Ross the players collaborated with three of the distinguished pianists at the Festival; Finghin Collins, Melvin Tan and Lise de la Salle. In 2015 the quintet was invited to take part in the Joan Trimble Centenary Celebration in Fermanagh and completed a very successful tour of Ireland supported by the Arts Council.

Programme:

ANTON REICHA (1770-1836):  WIND QUINTET (15’)

RONAN GUILFOYLE (b.1958):  GROOVE MERCHANTS (6’)

PAUL TAFFANEL (1844-1908):  WIND QUINTET IN G MINOR (25’)

*INTERVAL*

JOAN TRIMBLE (1915-2000):  THREE DIVERSIONS FOR WIND QUINTET (12’)

DARIUS MILHAUD (1892-1974):  LA CHEMINÉE DU ROI RENÉ (13’)

GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937):  SELECTIONS FROM PORGY AND BESS (12’)