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Incisive, confident and well-tuned

BBC Music Magazine, Anthony Burton

The Galliard Ensemble, a wind quintet formed in 1993 whilst its members were studying at the Royal Academy of Music, makes a very favourable impression on its recording debut. Its programme includes three pieces by Paul Patterson, an Academy professor for many years: the well-known, witty Comedy for Winds, a student quintet of some abrasiveness, but already showing Patterson’s characteristic gift for direct communications; and Westerly Winds, a recent lightweight suite based on four West Country folksongs (or to be precise on three folksongs and Vaughan Williams’s ‘Linden Lea’). These are complemented by Holst’s 1903 Wind Quintet, a fluent and tuneful if rather anonymous piece from what his daughter Imogen called his ‘long and painful’ apprenticeship, and two winning works from the Ensemble’s enterprising composers’ competitions: James Olsen’s Imbroglio, written when he was still at school, a well-constructed, well-written narrative showing great promise; and the arresting Autumn Wind by the Portuguese composer Luis Tinoco.

The Ensemble’s playing is incisive, confident and well-tuned even in extreme registers;

…the recording preserves an excellent balance between the instruments, though the bright acoustic militates against subtlety at the quiet end of the spectrum.

 

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Crisp articulation

Stephen Francis Vasta, MusicWeb International

Excellent playing, well-balanced and full of character

Gramophone, Geoffrey Norris

Played with verve

The Northern Echo

The glittering talent that is the Galliard Ensemble

What’s on in London, Duncan Hadfield

Superbly played

Andrew Farach-Colton, Gramophone

Galliard Ensemble Ref 17 Please Credit Stan Papior Smed
Sheer wit and panache

Rian Evans, The Guardian

Performed with assurance and flair

BBC Music Magazine, Anthony Burton

These will become reference performances

O Publico, Teresa Cascudo

They have technique, style and high spirits in spades

Time Out, Martin Hoyle

Immaculate performances … a pure delight … unreservedly recommended

MusicWeb International, Hubert Culot

Pure pleasure

Gramophone

Demands that were easily met

The Times

A young ensemble of considerable merit

Gramophone, Arnold Whittall

Superb sound

Richard Whitehouse

Excellently played

BBC Music Magazine, Nicholas Williams

One of the highlights

Paul Conway, The Independent

Stunning music and extraordinary playing

 

The Observer, Edward Bhesania

Well performed

The Sunday Times, Paul Driver

The performances are simply breath-taking

Gramophone, Andrew Achenbach

Endlessly fascinating

The Guardian, Andrew Clements

Excellent ensemble playing and vivid recording.

Classical Music on the Web UK, Peter Grahame Woolf

Galliard Ensemble
Like angels sent from heaven

Paul Patterson

Beautiful, delicate and fluent playing

Aberdeen Press and Journal, Alan Cooper

A highly talented wind quintet

West Somerset Free Press, Trevor L Sharpe

Galliard Ensemble
Immaculately prepared

Seen & Heard, Peter Graham Woolf

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02/11/2024