Jean Françaix (1912-1997): Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): Kleine Kammermusik für fünf Bläser, Op. 24, 2
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962): Trois Pièces Brèves pour flûte, hautbois, clarinette, cor et basson
Paul Taffanel (1844-1908): Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon in G minor

The aim and purpose of Preziosa, MDG's recently launched sub-label, is to reissue, bring back to life and preserve recordings from their past archives that have withstood the test of time, and deserve a second lease on life. After all, Preziosa is the Latin term for precious. Some of these have never been available on CD because they originated during the vinyl era. A case in point is this excellent 1978 recording by the Syrinx Quintet (the German wind ensemble not to be confused with the recently founded American Syrinx Quintet), which at the time were featuring rarely heard 20th century music for wind ensemble.

Also to be admired are composers capable of writing emotively expressive music for wind instruments. Compared to the string groups, woodwind and wind instruments are not the warmest bunch of the orchestra. But somehow, these composers and most notably Jacques Ibert, have managed to inject humour, melancholy and spirit within these works. Plus, I've always noticed that French composers in particular have a predilection for constant forward momentum. The music is always dancing, twirling, in perpetual motion, which suits the light and airy character of wind instruments very well.

And here, the Syrinx Quintet players tight yet highly flexible pinpoint accuracy, fluid dynamics, and most remarkably their ability to sound like a single unit, certainly injects life within the music.