The History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble: The Wind Band and Wind Ensemble of the Classical Period

The Wind Band and Wind Ensemble of the Classical Period is the fourth volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. Whitwell's meticulous scholarship reveals the continuous history of the wind ensemble, from its earliest roots to the twentieth century - an unbroken tradition of wind music that music scholars have never been fully able to appreciate until now. This volume includes the story of the transformation of the twelve-member Hautboisten bands into the remarkable Harmoniemusik repertoire of the Classical Period. This is the climax of the history of the small band with the greatest composers, including Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert, composing for an ensemble associated with the highest society. At the same time occurs the beginning of the preference for the modern large ensemble, created for an integral role in the political celebrations of the historic French Revolution.