Kalliope Reed Quintet Presents The World Premiere Of Jenni Brandon’s Wildflower Quintet

At the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinet Fest 2021, the Kalliope Reed Quintet presents the world premiere of Jenni Brandon’s Wildflower Quintet commissioned by the Kalliope Reed Quintet. This year’s presentation, at this link, is virtual. Kalliope’s performance is currently scheduled for July 18, 2021, at 11:30PM PDT at this YouTube link ClarinetFest® 2021 Virtual: Cape Daisy Recital – YouTube. The Kalliope Reed Quintet, founded in 2019, is the first professional reed quintet in New England and is one of the first 50 reed quintets worldwide.

The ICA Fest 2021 was originally set to take place in Texas before going virtual and going with this theme Kalliope will present the world premiere of Jenni Brandon’s Wildflower Quintet inspired the Ladybird Wildflower Research Center in Austin Texas. The Wildflower Quintet commissioning was coordinated for Kalliope by Natalie Zemba.

The correlating poems will be included in the video as the music progresses. Following this will be Daniel Cueto’s Amaru – back for its first performance of our 2021 season! Amaru will be presented as part of the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest 2021.

The five movements of The Wildflower Quintet for Reed Quintet (Oboe/English horn, Clarinet, Soprano/Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon) are based on the imagery from several poems by Bette Woolsey Castro, a friend of Lady Bird Johnson who founded the Wildflower Center in Texas. This work, as The Wildflower Trio for oboe, bassoon, and piano, was commissioned by the College of Fine Arts of the University of Texas at Austin to honor the life and environmental work of Lady Bird Johnson.

In this newly re-imagined version for Reed Quintet that was commissioned, recorded, and premiered by the Kalliope Quintet, the colors of the quintet add additional voices to the many wildflowers in Texas and across the United States. These instruments help to paint a broad picture of colors, shapes, and majesty of the flowers, and continue to honor the legacy and work of Mrs. Johnson.

I. Wildflowers
II. Wild Rose and Butterfly
III. The Hummingbird
IV. Indian Paintbrush
V. Summer Garden

Watch Jenni’s interview with Natalie Zemba, Artistic Director and Bassoonist of Kalliope Reed Quintet on Jenni’s Vlog “Work in Progress” where they talk about their collaboration on The Wildflower Quintet.