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This new CD has two works from the 1960s, Deux Preludes for flute, clarinet and bassoon and the three-movement Serenade for wind quintet and chamber orchestra. The more recent works are a group of six Recollections for wind quintet and piano (1982), short atmospheric pieces that explore unusual sonorities and demand considerable technique from the players [listen -- track 11, 0:30-1:26] and Five Poems for wind quintet that clearly should be taken up by professional ensembles everywhere that can meet the challenge. The Five Poems, written in 1994, are all about birds: Walking Birds, Happy Birds [listen -- track 4, 0:50-1:40], an Interlude with a lament for a dead bird, Fighting Birds [listen -- track 6, 0:00-1:00] and a final movement -- Birds Flying High Above. Husa wrote these pieces to express his admiration for birds, not to imitate them.

A fine recording of delightful discoveries, highly recommended.

For help listening to the sound extracts here, please refer to our questions & answers page.