The London based boutique CD label Cala has released a two-volume collection of French chamber music for woodwind instruments, covering compositions by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) and Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) in Volume I, and Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) and Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) in Volume II. Both volumes include two discs of music, altogether just under four and a half hours (2 hrs 8 minutes in Vol I, 2 hrs 16 minutes in Vol II).

In fact both volumes are stated to comprise the complete woodwind chamber music of the four French composers, and in collecting these works together they have also given us four world première recordings. They did exclude chamber works written primarily for voice, although the Poulenc Rapsodie nègre does include one movement with vocal content (singing gibberish!).

This is very enjoyable music, with excellent performances and a high standard of recording quality. I'm enjoying hearing this music for the first time as I listen to these performances, a very pleasant listening experience.

Contents of VOLUME I Claude Debussy / Camille Saint-Saens: Chamber Music for Woodwinds (Volume I)

tracks from CD 1, music of Claude Debussy
1 -- Rapsodie for cor anglais **
2 -- Syrinx, L 29
3 -- Première rapsodie
4-6 -- Sonata for flute, viola and harp
7 -- Le petit nègre, L 114 **
8 -- Petite pièce, L 120
9 -- Rapsodie for saxophone

tracks from CD 2, music of Camille Saint-Saëns
1 -- Odelette, Op. 162
2-5 -- Sonata for clarinet in E Flat Major, Op. 167 - I. Allegretto
6 -- Feuillet d'album in B Flat Major, Op. 81 **
7-9 -- Sonata for bassoon in G Major, Op. 168
10 -- Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs, Op. 79
11-13 -- Sonata for oboe in D Major, Op. 166 - I. Andantino
14 -- Romance in D Flat Major, Op. 37
15 -- Tarantelle, Op. 6

Contents of VOLUME II Maurice Ravel / Francis Poulenc: Chamber Music for Woodwinds

tracks from CD 1, music of Maurice Ravel (tracks 1-2), and Francis Poulenc (tracks 3-31)

1 -- Introduction and Allegro
2 -- Pièce en forme de habanera
3-5 -- Sonata for oboe
6-24 -- L'invitation au château **
25 -- Villanelle
26-28 -- Sonata for two clarinets
29-31 -- Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano

tracks from CD 2, music of Francis Poulenc

1-3 -- Sextet
4-6 -- Sonata for clarinet and bassoon
7-11 -- Rapsodie nègre
12-14 -- Sonata for clarinet
15-17 -- Mouvements perpétuels
18-20 -- Sonata for flute

** World Première Recording

A total of nineteen different artists are represented, all prominent performers, performing the works on these recordings. They are:
- William Bennett, flute, both as a soloist and in ensemble including with his regular duo partner Clifford Benson.
- Nicholas Daniel, oboe, both as a soloist and in ensemble including with his regular duo partner Julius Drake.
- James Campbell, clarinet, both as a soloist and in ensemble including with his regular duo partner John York.
- Allegri String Quartet artists Peter Carter, violin, David Roth, violin, Roger Tapping, viola, Bruno Schrecker, cello, performing together and in ensemble with other soloists, also joining as individual performers for some of the works.
- Richard Watkins, horn
- Ieuan Jones, harp
- Rachel Gough, bassoon (she is also Principal Bassoonist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra)
- David Campbell, clarinet
- Peter Sidhom, baritone
- Chris West
- Simon Haram, saxophone
- Robert Maskell
- Robin Kennard, bassoon

Additionally for the Poulenc L'invitation au château, two vocalists join the ensemble:
- Joanna Elias, vocal
- Jacky Guter, vocal

Both volumes include liner notes written by James Harding, who has authored biographies of Charles Francois Gounod (see Gounod, Erik Satie and Camille Saint-Saëns Saint-Saens and His Circle among many other writings.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.8 (11 ratings)
Price	$22.8
Category	Trios

Claude Debussy / Camille Saint-Saens: Chamber Music for Woodwinds Vol. 1