Quintessenz – Leipziger Querflötenensemble

Quintessenz Leipzig Flute Ensemble is a flute quintet from Leipzig, Germany. Its members are five musicians of Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, MDR Symphony Orchestra, and Staatskapelle Halle.[1][2]

Quintessenz Leipzig Flute Ensemble
Background information
OriginLeipzig, Germany
GenresClassical, jazz
Years active1996–present
LabelsMDG, Genuin
Members
  • Anna Garzuly
  • Jérémie Abergel
  • Bettine Keyßer
  • Christian Sprenger
  • Manfred Ludwig
Past members
  • Britta Croissant
  • Christian Sprenger
  • Gudrun Hinze
  • Ute Günther
Websitewww.quintessenz-leipzig.com

History

Quintessenz Leipzig Flute Ensemble was founded in 1996,[3] Inspired by the works of British a cappella-band King’s Singers, and the Bamboozles, a flute quintet of five students of Trevor Wye.

At first, Quintessenz met in private to play Jazz. With training in classical music, the transition to Jazz quickly developed a characteristic sound. The groups classical education heavily influenced their early works.

Without sheet music for flute quintets, Quintessenz began arranging their own musical pieces. They used music for quintets of different instruments and also adapted symphonic pieces, piano literature, and completely different music genres. Thus they began to compile their own programs.

In 1999, Quintessenz recorded their first CD, followed by three more. In 2006, the ensemble was invited by Trevor Wye to the flute festival of the British Flute Society in Manchester. Since then, they have performed at various international festivals, inter alia in New York City in August 2009, hosted by the National Flute Association of the United States.

A few years ago, Quintessenz started to focus on the support of young flutists. In cooperation with the regional music council (Landesmusikrat) and the Jeunesses Musicales Germany they hosted several workshops for flute chamber music.[4]

Programs

Because of their particular music style, there is always a main topic or theme that organizes the repertoire. This theme can be related to both music or composers (Mozartimento), but also countries (America!) or literary themes (Tour de France). In addition to that, Quintessenz has several special programs that combine music and poetry (Hymn to fish, All those birds). For those, they are assisted by professional stage actors who recite poems to the respective topic.

A special form of these programs is the "musical promenade". The audience is invited to walk through the landscape together with “Quintessenz”, playing music at different places. Additional programs are for example "A Midsummer Night's Dream" – the program for the Mendelssohn year 2009. Parts of the music of the Midsummer Night's Dream are the frame, replenished with pieces about summer, night, and elves.

Discography
  • 1999: Bonsoir
  • 2003: Arabesques
  • 2006: America!
  • 2007: Tour de France

Notes
  1. "Innovativ und virtuos". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 28 February 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. "Konzerte am Kanal: Ost-westliche Serenade mit dem Ensemble Quintessenz – Nachrichten aus Leipzig". Nachrichten aus Leipzig – Leipziger Zeitung (in German). 1 November 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. "Schlosskonzert in St. Benedikt: Internationales Flötenensemble spielt in der Kirche – Ascheberg". Westfälische Nachrichten (in German). 8 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. "Begeisterung pur in altehrwürdigen Räumen – Ausgabe: 12/09 – neue musikzeitung". nmz (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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