Description

This opening movement of what is now a three-movement Wind Quintet, scored for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Horn in F and Bassoon, is based in the whole-tone scale, a scale which recurs briefly in the final movement.

As well as an exploration of this scale, it also explores the timbres of the five instruments in different combinations and in various textures. It comprises various “cells” of music, each of which culminates in a whole-tone chord, before moving on to the next.

It opens in 5/4 but also utilises other time signatures as it progresses.

Like the other two movements, it can work as a stand-alone, but I hope it will be performed in the context of the whole three-movement work.