Festivo Winds at Low Four
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
As part of their summer tour Festivo Winds, a vibrant and technically excellent ensemble are bringing an evening of art music to Low Four Studios. Joining them on the night will be harpist Alice Roberts (as seen in Matthew Halsall’s band) and clarinettist Jess Tomlinson. Expect an evening of intertwined DJs and instrumental music to leave you soothed and inspired.
Opening a programme based around themes of youth, nature and folk traditions, Ross Edwards’ five bagatelles for wind quintet, ‘The Laughing Moon’, sets the tone, bringing a joyous mood to the fore. Drawn on earlier iterations of his own work, its raucous and laughing finale segues into Scottish composer Edward Maguire’s soulful piece for flute clarinet and bassoon, ‘Celtic Knotwork’, a modern exploration of Scottish folk song.
19th century American composer Amy Beach’s ‘Pastorale’ provides a soothing respite, followed by Ruth Gipps’ ‘Prelude for Bass Clarinet Solo’. Concluding the programme is Janacek’s iconic work for wind sextet, ‘Mládí’ or ‘Youth’. Inspired by scenes of his own Czech boyhood, and full of nostalgia, feeling, but also energy and fierce directness, it remains one of the most challenging and rewarding works in wind chamber repertoire.
This event is supported by Bothy, a Manchester based group who create affordable and sustainable ways for classical chamber music to exist in the city.
