In this concert, the Caméléon quintet aims to retrace the late appearance and development of the wind quintet in Europe. It was not until the eighteenth century that the winds took pride of place in the salons, freeing themselves from the secondary roles they had played in symphonic works. Haydn was one of the first composers to write chamber music for these instruments, although the wind quintet was not yet a fixed form. Still less famous than the string quartet, it was not until the development of instrument making around 1830 that wind ensembles were able to compete with the technical possibilities of string instruments. The nineteenth century saw the advent of the wind quintet as we know it today: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn. Now a fixed formation, it inspired a number of composers throughout Europe, particularly in the twentieth century, giving rise to the vast majority of the so-called landmark works in the wind quintet repertoire. The Caméléon quintet takes you on a journey through the history of the wind quintet, from the eighteenth century to the present day, from experimentation with the wind quintet to the advent of the traditional wind quintet.

The Quintette Caméléon was formed in 2020 out of a shared desire to explore the exciting repertoire of the wind quintet. Several years of cohesion and hard work have enabled the quintet to develop its own identity and aesthetic through the key works of this traditional group, enriched by arranging, creation and experimentation. David Walter and Michel Moraguès, in particular, have taught the Chameleons to solidify their musical discourse. Currently studying for a master's degree in chamber music at the CNSMDP, the Caméléon quintet is constantly seeking to enrich its practice, notably through interdisciplinary projects currently under development.

Programme

Joseph Haydn Divertimento pour quintette à vent n° 1 en si bémol majeur Allegro con spirito Saint-Antoine choral Menuetto Rondo. Allegretto

Antonín Dvořák String quartet in F major n° 12 “Américain”, op.96 (arrangement David Walter) (excerpt)
Allegro ma non troppo

Jacques Ibert Three short pieces for wind quintet
Allegro Andante Rather slow — Allegro scherzando

György Ligeti Six Bagatelles pour quintette à vent
Allegro con spirito Rubato. Lamentoso Allegro grazioso Presto ruvido (Béla Bartók in memoriam) Adagio. Mesto Molto vivace. Capriccioso

Thierry Escaich Three Fugitive Instants for wind quintet

Malcolm Arnold Three Shanties for wind quintet, op. 4
Allegro con brio Allegretto semplice Allegro vivace