About

Overview

The Pacific Wind Ensemble was established in 1992 to perform distinguished chamber music for wind instruments. The core ensemble consists of two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, and two horns, selected from notable Bay Area orchestras and chamber music groups. When additional musicians are included, it can perform a wide spectrum of music from the 18th to the 21st centuries. The ensemble also connects with composers and has premiered many of their works.

Timeline

• February 1992: The initial concept (as the Pacific Wind Ensemble):

  3 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 6 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Saxophones

  4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 Euphonium, 1 Tuba

  1 Timpani, 4 Percussion, 1 Double Bass

• June 1992: First rehearsals (as the Pacific Wind Symphony); selected repertoire:

  Toccata Marziale – Ralph Vaughan Williams
  A Solemn Music – Virgil Thomson
  Divertimento for Band – Vincent Persichetti
  Serenade in Eb, Op. 7 – Richard Strauss
  Petite Symphonie in Bb – Charles Gounod

• July 1992: Concept revised as:

  2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 4 Clarinets, 3 Bassoons

  4 Horns

  1 Double Bass

• September 1992: Debut concert of the following repertoire:

  Octet in F – Franz Joseph Haydyn
  An Introduction – Peter Botian (world premiere)
  Petite Symphonie in Bb – Charles Gounod
  Serenade in Eb, Op. 7 – Richard Strauss
  Septet – Jason Gibbs (world premiere)
  Fugue in Eb – J. S. Bach (arr. Todd Willis)

• May 1993: The only concert requiring 24 musicians. The group was renamed the Pacific Wind Orchestra. The roster included:

  3 Flutes, 3 Oboes, 3 Clarinets, 3 Bassoons

  4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba

  1 Timpani

• August 1993: First performance at Ghirardelli Square (as the Pacific Wind Ensemble). There were no further renamings after this. The core instrumentation was finalized as follows:

  2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns

• February 1994: Gran Partita concert; the only one to be videotaped.

• August 1994: This was the last concert of the original iteration of the group.

• March 2000: First attempt to revive the group. We performed two Mozart Serenades.

• October 2001: This was the revived group’s first program of the planned season and its first away from San Francisco.

• November 2002: This was the first and only performance of Dvořák’s Serenade in d minor, which required the addition of violoncello and double bass players. No string musician had been included in any program since the debut concert. The roster:

  2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contrabassoon

  4 Horns

  1 Violoncello, 1 Double Bass

• March 2003: The final concert, including two world premieres and a North American premiere.

Repertoire

Title	Composer
Octet in F	Franz Joseph Haydn
An Introduction *	Peter Botian
Petite Symphonie in Bb	Charles Gounod
Septet *	Jason Gibbs
Serenade in Eb, Op. 7	Richard Strauss
Fugue in Eb (from the “Well-Tempered Clavier”) *	J. S. Bach (arr. Todd Willis)
Prelude in Fugue in C (from the “Well-Tempered Clavier”) *	J. S. Bach (arr. Todd Willis)
Serenade in Eb, KV 375	W. A. Mozart
Suite in Bb, Op. 4	Richard Strauss
Music for the Royal Fireworks (excerpts)	G. F. Handel
Divertimento in Eb	Gordon Jacob
Columbian Fanfares	Morton Gould
Concerto for 23 Winds	Walter Hartley
Serenade in Bb, KV 370a	W. A. Mozart
Divertimento in Eb, KV 226	W. A. Mozart
Rondino in Eb, Op. 99	Ludwig von Beethoven
Serenade in c minor, KV 384	W. A. Mozart
Octet in Eb, Op. 103	Ludwig von Beethoven
Serenade in Eb	Franz Anton Hoffmeister
Octet-Partita in Eb, Op. 79	Franz Krommer
Octet-Partita in Eb, S. 48	Johann Hummel
Octet in Bb, Op. 216	Carl Reinecke
Selections from “Le nozze di Figaro”	W. A. Mozart
Overture to “La Clemenza di Tito”	W. A. Mozart
Serenade in d minor, Op. 44	Antonín Dvořák
Old Wine in New Bottles	Gordon Jacob
More Old Wine in New Bottles	Gordon Jacob
Three Elizabethan Fancies	Gordon Jacob
The Arrival *	Jonathan Gall
Downtempo Suite *	James A. Goins
Opus Octo **	John Falcone