Melbourne Windpower
Directed by Richard Runnels. Wind octets by Haydn, C.P.E. Bach, Beethoven, Bozza and Australian Graham Powning, recorded in the clear, natural acoustic of the Melbourne Concert Hall.
Richard Runnels director
Stephen Robinson oboe
Kazimierz Gorzadek oboe
Kate Stockwin clarinet
Judy Neutze clarinet
Max Neil bassoon
Stephen Black bassoon, contrabassoon
Philip Hall french horn
Vivienne Collier french horn
Ludwig van Beethoven composer
Eugène Bozza composer
Franz Joseph Haydn composer
Graham Powning composer
Melbourne Windpower is directed by American-born horn player Richard Runnels, then principal horn of the State Orchestra of Victoria. A graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, he attended Indiana University and the Salzburg Mozarteum. A former member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and artist-in-residence at the Victorian College of the Arts, he has performed solo and chamber concerts (with ENSEMBLE I) around the world. Runnels made his conducting debut with the Australian Ballet in 1986 and his opera debut at Italy’s Spoleto Festival in 1987.
The programme pairs outdoor-style Feldpartie and Parthia writing by Haydn and Beethoven with C.P.E. Bach’s Six Sonatas for winds, Eugène Bozza’s Octanphonie, and Graham Powning’s Wind Octet, dedicated to Amadeus and inspired by Mozart’s wind serenades.
Reviews
This recording has introduced me to the pleasures of wind music on this scale, and for this I am truly thankful ... This is a group very deserving of patronage ...
This is a superb ensemble. The group is solid in every respect: complex rhythmic sections, intonation, attacks, and releases.
Melbourne Windpower plays up a storm ... an action-packed performance to which the audience gave a spirited response.
Artists

Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was a German composer and pianist whose music stands at the centre of the Western classical tradition, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras.

Eugène Bozza
Eugène Bozza (1905–1991) was a French composer and violinist, best known for a large body of chamber music for wind instruments. His larger works include symphonies, operas and ballets, though these are seldom performed outside France.

Graham Powning
Over the past twenty years Graham Powning's compositions have been written mainly for woodwind instruments and his great sense of humour shows through in the highly imaginative titles of his works.

Franz Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period, central to the making of the symphony, the string quartet and the piano trio. A vast body of chamber, orchestral and sacred music from his long career shaped the language of his age.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) was a German composer and keyboard musician of the late Baroque and early Classical eras. A principal voice of the empfindsamer Stil, he helped found the expressive Classical style.

Melbourne Windpower
Melbourne Windpower brings the late 18th century tradition of wind ensemble music to the present day. The members of Melbourne Windpower perform with the State Orchestra of Victoria.

Richard Runnels
Richard Runnels is an American-born horn player long based in Melbourne as principal horn of Orchestra Victoria and director of Melbourne Windpower. His solo recordings span core horn repertoire and Australian works.
Audio preview
Tracks
- Allegro comodo 1:45
- Andante moderato 2:14
- Minuetto 3:15
- Rondo: Allegretto 1:52
- Allegro tempestoso 2:14
- Menuetto 1:55
- Lento maestoso 2:39
- Marcia 1:23
- Rondo: Allegro vivo 1:38
- Allegretto 2:03
- Andante 2:09
- Allegro :59
- Allegretto grazioso 2:21
- Allegro ma non troppo 1:36
- Allegro assai 1:12
- Molto moderato — Allegro 4:25
- Andantino 4:06
- Allegro vivo 2:14
- Allegro 7:00
- Andante 6:34
- Menuetto 4:44
- Finale: Presto 3:34
Feldpartie in B flat, Hob.II:43 Franz Joseph Haydn
Wind Octet Graham Powning
Six Sonatas Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Octanphonie Eugène Bozza
Parthia in E flat, Op. 103 Ludwig van Beethoven
Performers
- Melbourne Windpower
- Richard Runnels · director
- Stephen Robinson
- Kazimierz Gorzadek
- Kate Stockwin
- Judy Neutze
- Max Neil
- Stephen Black · bassoon, contrabassoon
- Philip Hall
- Vivienne Collier
Where to listen
Melbourne Windpower is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Melbourne Windpower is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3082
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 61 minutes 52 seconds
- Producer
- Martin Wright
Richard Runnels - Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Co-Producer
- Timothy Calnin
- Venue
- Melbourne Concert Hall
- Release date
- 1989
- Musical work
copyright - © 1989 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1989 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical
- Genre
- Classical Era
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574308228
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