Your favourite QUINTETS, any mix of instruments.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Mozart's K515 and 516 are head and shoulders above everything else though.

Possibly equalled by Schubert's D956.

Possibly - it's certainly the finest 'cello 5tet that I can think of.

[ahinton]

Surprised no one has mentioned Brahms's first string quintet Op. 88. I like it just as well as his second one. Sometimes better.

Mozart's K515 and 516 are head and shoulders above everything else though. Possibly equalled by Schubert's D956.

Agreed about the Brahms and the Mozart. I cannot, however, manage to bring myself to enthuse about the Schubert like almost everyone else on earth...

[ahinton]

A quite recent discovery for me is Weinberg's monumental,beautiful,tormented and tragic (probably describes most of his music) Piano Quintet.

Yes, it's good to see that one back again; years ago, there was a recording by the Borodin 4tet and the composer on Melodya (MEL CD 10 01998). His work is not getting to be much better known - and about time, too! All the quartets have been recorded in more recent times and there's opther material out there now. He's remained in the shadows for far too long, as I'm sure Shostakovich would have agreed had he lived to witness the long overdue revival of interest in his work.

[kea]

Possibly - it's certainly the finest 'cello 5tet that I can think of.

Hmm. I can't think of any other cello 5tets apart from Boccherini and Reicha, though I know there have to be more.

I cannot, however, manage to bring myself to enthuse about the Schubert like almost everyone else on earth...

Can understand Schubert not being to everyone's taste. He's not always to mine—I think of him somewhat as an ex-boyfriend I still have feelings for, but usually manage to get through the day without thinking too much about. Until I get drunk or sentimental and end up sobbing into D959 begging for forgiveness and promising to forswear all other music for eternity. Eventually I come to my senses and realise the relationship would never work out, and return to the arms of my true love, Schumann.

That was a slightly awkward metaphor. I apologise.

Yes, it's good to see that one back again; years ago, there was a recording by the Borodin 4tet and the composer on Melodya (MEL CD 10 01998). His work is not getting to be much better known - and about time, too! All the quartets have been recorded in more recent times and there's opther material out there now. He's remained in the shadows for far too long, as I'm sure Shostakovich would have agreed had he lived to witness the long overdue revival of interest in his work.

Side note: the score of Weinberg's piano quintet can be read here for those interested in such things.

[Ferretfancy]

It may be in an earlier post, but Nielsen's Wind Quintet is a delight, especially on the Melos recording.

[Sir Velo]

Bliss' Clarinet Quintet: sheer, er, bliss...

[Sir Velo]

Faure's 2nd Piano Qnt (no doubt Caliban has already drawn this to boarders' attention). Supple, effortless, mellifluence.

[Sir Velo]

It may be in an earlier post, but Nielsen's Wind Quintet is a delight, especially on the Melos recording.

Liget's Wind Qnt. At the extreme of sonic digestibility, but worth a nibble.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Liget's Wind Qnt. At the extreme of sonic digestibility, but worth a nibble.

There are two works for W5tet by Ligeti, neither of them gruelling (see what I did there - "digestibility" - pathetic, isn't it ) - the Six Bagatelles 0f 1954:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TzQaQhVML4

... and the Ten Pieces of 1968:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsoQQHRMyps

All my favourite W5tets (so far) were written in the 20th Century: Nielsen, Schönberg, Carter, Birtwistle, Ligeti ...

... and, swapping France for England, Stockhausen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo0P6nOtrfU

[aeolium]

Mozart's K515 and 516 are head and shoulders above everything else though. Possibly equalled by Schubert's D956.

What about Mozart's own later quintets, K593 and K614? I prefer both of these to K515.

[teamsaint]

for those interested in the Nielsen windy quinny,, it can be had brand new for nunpence.

And very good this CD is too !!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nielsen-Quintet-Holmboe-Notturno-Abrahamsen/dp/B000024OE2/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1392985122&sr=1-5&keywords=nielsen+wind+quintet

[gamba]

Mozart K 516 - No equal

Schubert - string quintet.