Françaix: String Trio - Wind Quintets - Cor Anglais Quartet

Jean Françaix, a master of neoclassical and chamber music, invites you into his intricate and delightful musical world with this 1994 release. This album is a testament to Françaix's enduring style, which blends the precision and clarity of French Renaissance music with the influence of Stravinsky and Les Six, particularly Francis Poulenc. Spanning over fifty years of his compositional journey, the pieces on this album showcase his consistent and engaging approach to music.

The album opens with the String Trio in C Major, a work that Françaix composed in 1933. This piece is followed by two Wind Quintets, the first composed in 1948 and the second in 1977, demonstrating Françaix's evolution as a composer while maintaining his unique voice. The Cor Anglais Quartet, composed in 1967, adds a unique color to the album with its distinctive instrumentation.

Performed by the Marwood Ensemble and the Haffner Wind Ensemble of London, this album is a polished and effervescent exploration of Françaix's musical prowess. The ensembles bring a sense of playfulness and precision to the music, capturing the spirit of Françaix's compositions. Whether you're a longtime fan of Françaix or a newcomer to his music, this album offers a captivating journey through the composer's neoclassical and chamber music repertoire. With a duration of just over an hour, it's an excellent addition to any classical music collection.