Vancouver Woodwind Quintet
Encyclopedia
The Vancouver Woodwind Quintet (VWQ) was a Canadian
wind quintet
based in Vancouver
, British Columbia
that was active during the late 1960s and 1970s. The quintet performed roughly 40 concerts a year, both in Vancouver and on tour throughout Canada. Many of their concerts were given in Vancouver schools through the sponsorship of the Vancouver School Board. The ensemble also performed with some frequency on CBC Radio
. The group performed a broad repertoire and notably recorded works by several contemporary Canadian composers, including Ingolf Dahl
, Carl Nielsen
, and Robert Turner
.
Founded in 1968, the VWQ was made up of members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
and often performed in joint programs with the orchestra. From 1968-1970 the Jeunesses musicales du Canada sponsored the group. After 1975 tne ensemble no longer toured and the quintet disbanded in the late 1970s. The original members of the ensemble included Robert Creech
(horn), Harriet Crossland (flute), Ronald de Kant (clarinet), Roland Small (bassoon), and Warren Stannard (oboe). Creech was the only member to leave the ensemble and he was succeeded by Martin Hackleman in 1976.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
wind quintet
Wind quintet
A wind quintet, also sometimes known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players . The term also applies to a composition for such a group....
based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
that was active during the late 1960s and 1970s. The quintet performed roughly 40 concerts a year, both in Vancouver and on tour throughout Canada. Many of their concerts were given in Vancouver schools through the sponsorship of the Vancouver School Board. The ensemble also performed with some frequency on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
. The group performed a broad repertoire and notably recorded works by several contemporary Canadian composers, including Ingolf Dahl
Ingolf Dahl
Ingolf Dahl was a German-born American composer, pianist, conductor, and educator.-Biography:Born in Hamburg, Germany to a German father and a Swedish mother, his birth name was Walter Ingolf Marcus. He studied with Philipp Jarnach at the Hochschule für Musik Köln...
, Carl Nielsen
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
, and Robert Turner
Robert Turner (composer)
Robert Comrie Turner is a Canadian composer, radio producer, and music educator. He graduated with a bachelors degree in music from McGill University in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke and Claude Champagne. He continued his studies briefly at Colorado College in 1947, where he met...
.
Founded in 1968, the VWQ was made up of members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
and often performed in joint programs with the orchestra. From 1968-1970 the Jeunesses musicales du Canada sponsored the group. After 1975 tne ensemble no longer toured and the quintet disbanded in the late 1970s. The original members of the ensemble included Robert Creech
Robert Creech
Robert Edward Creech is a Canadian french hornist, music educator, and arts administrator. He served as director of the Canadian Music Council from 1975–1979 and chairman of the Arts Advisory Council of the Canada Council from 1976-1978...
(horn), Harriet Crossland (flute), Ronald de Kant (clarinet), Roland Small (bassoon), and Warren Stannard (oboe). Creech was the only member to leave the ensemble and he was succeeded by Martin Hackleman in 1976.