Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet

This discography lists commercial recordings by the Soni Ventorum Quintet. (The Archives page contains only downloadable on-site live recordings, unedited, and does not include any of these recordings.) This list does not include solo recordings made by individual members of the group.

1. Lyrichord LLST 7168 - recorded in 1963
Mozart: Adagio and Allegro in F minor for Mechanical Organ, K. 594, arr. Meyer
Mozart: Fantasy in F minor for mechanical organ, K. 608, arr. Meyer
Mozart: Andante in F major for mechanical organ, K. 616, arr. Meyer
Villa-Lobos: Quintette en Forme de Chôros
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; James Caldwell, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Arthur Grossman, bassoon and Robert Bonnevie Horn
This recording was first released in a limited edition of 500 copies on the Phoenix label - PH2001
Reviews: The New Records, March 1965; Audio, April 1965

2. Desto 6401 - recorded in 1964, "A Program of Contemporary Wind Music" (featuring the Soni Ventorum Quintet and the New York Brass Quintet)
Morris: Five Esoteric Pieces for Wind Quintet
Hamerik: Quintet
(plus pieces by McGrath, Hovhaness, and Jones performed by the New York Brass Quintet)
Performers: as above

3. Lyrichord LLST 7143 - recorded in 1964, "Music for the Musical Clock"
Beethoven: Five Pieces for the Musical Clock, arr. Skowronek
Haydn: Fourteen Pieces for the Musical Clock, arr. Skowronek
Performers: as above
Reviews: The New Records, July 1965; High Fidelity, November 1965; The Grammophone, May 1967; The Monthly Letter from E.M.G., April 1967; Records and Recordings, September 1967

4. Lyrichord LLST 7158 - recorded in 1965
Goodman: Quintet for Wind Instruments
Piston: Three Pieces for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon
Křenek: Pentagram for Winds
Performers: as above
Reviews: This recording was named one of the Year's Best Recordings in Saturday Review, November, 1966;
also reviewed inHigh Fidelity, October 1966

5. Decca DL71065 - recorded in 1968, "Electro-Vibrations: the Music of John Eaton"
Eaton: Vibrations - Concert Piece for Woodwinds
(plus other microtonal music by Eaton. Legend has it that when the C.E.O. of Decca chanced to hear this record he shouted, "That's it - no more classical music!" The ban is said to have lasted for years.)
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe (tuned down one quarter tone); Anne Ferguson, oboe; William McColl, clarinet (tuned down); Michael Davenport, clarinet; William O. Smith, conductor
Reviews: This recording was named one of the Year's Best Recordings in Saturday Review, November, 1970;
also reviewed in The New Records, November, 1969

6. Lyrichord LLST7216 - recorded 1969
Reicha: Quintet in E minor, op. 100, no. 4
Danzi: Quintet in F major, op. 56, no 3
Performers: Felix skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Christopher Leuba, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon
Review: The New Records, May 1970

7. Ravenna RAVE701 - recorded 1970, "Trois Quintetti Concertans"
Cambini: Quintet no. 1 in Bb major
Cambini: Quintet no. 2 in D minor
Cambini: Quintet no. 3 in F major
Peformers: as above
Reviews: High Fidelity and Musical America, August 1972; The New Records, July 1973

8. Musical Heritage Society MHS3247 - recorded 1971
Reicha: Quintet in E minor, op. 88, no. 1
Reicha: Quintet in G major, op. 88, no. 3
Performers: as above

9. Ravenna RAVE702 - recorded1972, "Soni Ventorum Plays Villa-Lobos"
Villa-Lobos: Chôros no. 2 for Flute and Clarinet
Villa-Lobos: Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras no. 6 for Flute and Bassoon
Villa-Lobos: Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Arthur Grossman, bassoon
Reissued in 1974 by the Musical Heritage Society MHS1875Y
Reviews: This recording was noted as a Recording of Special Merit by Stereo Review, May 1973; also reviewed in High Fidelity and Musical America, May 1973; Sterio Review, May 1973

10. Musical Heritage Society MHS3187 - recorded 1972, "Soni Ventorum Plays Poulenc and Villa-Lobos"
Poulenc: Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon
Poulenc: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano
Villa-Lobos: Duo for Oboe and Bassoon
Villa-Lobos: Fantaisie Concertante for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano
Performers: Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Randolph Hokanson, piano

11. Musical Heritage Society MHS3248 - recorded 1972
Reicha: Quintet in D minor, op. 88 no. 4
Reicha: Quintet in C minor, op. 91 no. 6
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Christopher Leuba, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon

12. Crystal S251 - recorded 1975
Danzi: Quintet in F major, op. 68 no. 2
Danzi: Quintet in D minor, op. 68 no. 3
Performers: as above
Reviewed: The New Records, June 1976

13. Crystal S351 - recorded 1975, "Winds from the Northwest"
Bozza: Sonatine for Flute and Bassoon
Aitken: Montages for Solo Bassoon
Goodman: Jadis III (Hommage à "La Sérénade Interrompue") for Flute and Bassoon
Smith: Straws for Flute and Bassoon
Gerster: Bird in the Spirit for Solo Flute
Gabaye: Sonatine for Flute and Bassoon
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Arthur Grossman, bassoon
Reviewed: The New Records, June 1976

14. Crystal S254 - recorded 1977
Taffanel: Wind Quintet in G minor
Martinon: Doménon, op. 21 for Wind Quintet
Arrieu: Quintet in C major
Performers: as in recording no. 12
Reviewed: The New Records, September 1978; Fanfare, January/February 1979; Consumers' Research Magazine, January 1979

15. Crystal S254 - recorded 1978
Françaix: Sept Impromptus for Flute and Bassoon
Arrieu: Suite in Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
Ketting: Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon
Gerster: Cantata for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
Performers: as in recording no. 9
Reviewed: The Clarinet, Winter 1983; The New Records, July 1981

16. Laurel 113 - recorded 1979, "Music of Charles Harold Bernstein, Vol. IV" (no relation to Leonard Bernstein)
Recording commissioned by the composer.
C. H. Bernstein: Glory of Samothrace for Wind Quintet
C. H. Bernstein: Answers and Questions for Solo Flute
C. H. Bernstein: Solo for Bassoon
C. H. Bernstein: Poem Tones for Bassoon and Cello
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; Robert Bonnevie, horn (rejoining the group for this recording); Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Toby Saks, cello.

17. Serenus Recorded Editions SRS12097 - recorded 1980, "Music of Joseph Alexander and Joseph Goodman"
Goodman: Five Bagatelles for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon
(plus other compositions by Goodman and Alexander which do not include wind instruments)
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; William McColl, clarinet and Arthur Grossman, bassoon
Reviewed: Fanfare, July/August 1882; The New Records, May 1982

18. Musical Heritage Society MHS4621 - recorded 1981
Danzi: Quintet in G minor, op.56 no. 2
Danzi: Quintet in G major, op. 67 no. 1
Danzi: Quintet in E minor, op. 67 no. 2
Danzi: Quintet in Bb major, op. 56 no. 1
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon
Reviewed: Fanfare, May/June 1982

19. Crystal Records S257 - recorded 1981, "Music for Woodwinds, Chamber Ensemble and Voice"
Smith: Eternal Truths for Woodwind Quartet
Thome: The Yew Tree
Goodman: Four Songs on Poems by Juan Ramón Jiménez
Performers: the quintet as above plus Montserrat Alavedra, soprano
Reviewed: The Clarinet, Spring 1984; The New Records, February 1984

20. Musical Heritage Society MHS4782F - recorded 1981
Barber: Summer Music, op. 31
Carter: Woodwind Quintet
Fine: Partita for Wind Quintet
Goodman: Scherzo for Wind Quintet
Performers: as in recording no. 18
Reviewed: Fanfare, March/April 1984

21. Musical Heritage Society MHS4375 - recorded 1981, "Two Quintets for Piano and Winds"
Mozart: Quintet in Eb major, K. 452 for Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
Beethoven: Quintet in Eb major, op.16 for Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
Performers: Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon and Neal O'Doan, Piano

22. Musical Heritage Society MHS7132K - recorded 1982
Nielsen: Wind Quintet, op. 43
Françaix: Wind Quintet no. 1
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn and Arthur Grossman, bassoon

23. Musical Heritage Society MHS7456Z - recorded 1982-83, "The Art of the Bassoon"
Farago: Phantasy on a Theme by Paganini, op. 40a
Almanraeder: Potpourri, op. 3
Schibler: Monologue
Andriessen: Concertino for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble
van Praag: Fantasie for Solo Bassoon and Wind Ensemble
Performers: Arthur Grossman, solo Bassoon; Felix Skowronek, Melinda Johnson, flutes; Laila Storch, Ove Hanson, oboes; William McColl, Mark Wardlaw, clarinets; David Kappy, Roger Burnett, horns; Beatrice Kaufman, Francine Floyd, bassoons

24. Crystal S258 - recorded 1984
Bergsma: Changes for Seven for Wind Quintet, Piano and Percussion
Goodman: Quartet for Winds
Zaninelli: Burla and Variations for Woodwind Quartet
Etler: Quintet no. 2 for Woodwind Instruments
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Randolph Hokanson, piano; Michael Clark, percussion
Reviewed: The New Records, October 1985; Ovation, November 1985; Fanfare, November/December 1985; American Record Guide, January/February 1986

The following recordings are in CD format:

25. Musical Heritage Society MHS7364L - recorded 1985, "Six Works for Wind Quintet"
Ibert: Trois Pièces Brèves for Wind Quintet
Hindemith: Kleine Kammermusik, op. 24 no. 2
Milhaud: La Cheminée du Roi René
Rimski-Korsakov: The Flight of the Bumblebee, arr. McColl
Fučik: The Old Grumper (Starý Bručoun), novelty polka for Bassoon solo
Blanchet: A Haitian Folk Tale for Wind Quintet and conga drum
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon and Dan Adams, conga drum

26. Musical Heritage Society MHS922023A - recorded 1986
Rossini: Six Quartets for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon: 1. in Fmajor; 2. in G major; 3. in F major;
4. in Bb major; 5. in D makor; 6. in F major
Mayr: Twelve Bagatelles for Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon
Performers: Felix Skowronek. flute; William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon

27. Musical Heritage Society 512759Y - recorded 1990, "Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet Plays Works by Jean Françaix and Ronald Roseman"
Françaix: Quatour for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon
Françaix: Wind Quintet no. 2
Roseman: Quintet
Performers: as in no. 22

28. Musical Heritage Society 514225K - recorded 1992
Smith: Jazz Set for Wind Quintet and solo violin
Schoenberg: Wind Quintet, op. 26
Performers: Felix Skowronek, flute; Laila Storch, oboe (in the Smith Jazz Set); Alex Klein, oboe (in the Schoenberg Quintet); William McColl, clarinet; David Kappy, horn; Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Aloysia Friedmann, violin solo

Many thanks are owed to Megan Lyden, flutist and historian, whose 336 page book, "The Story of the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet" is now available for purchase by the public in many formats, including digital. book