WIND QUINTET NO. 1 in E Flat Major, Op.36, for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in B flat, Bassoon and Horn. Gerald Manning

Favoured in the court of Joseph II in late 18th century Vienna a wood-wind ensemble consisting of two oboes, two clarinets, two horns and two bassoons was arguably the influence along with Haydn's chamber music writing which gave rise to the modern wind quintet. What established the genre however were Anton Reicha's 24 quintets begun in 1811, and the 9 quintets of Franz Danzi which are still in the repertoire of most Wind Quintets' of today. In the later half of the 19th century, the form diminished in stature but was revived by leading composers in the 20th century, and is valued for its versatility and variety of tone color, thus establishing the wind quintet as a standard chamber music ensemble.