Peter Racine Fricker: Wind Quintet, Op.5: A Forgotten Delight Part I

Introduction

Most critics and commentators agree that Peter Racine Fricker’s Wind Quintet, op.5 composed in 1947 was his first composition to make a major impact on the musical world. This work was taken up by the legendary Dennis Brain who was a boyhood friend of the composer at St. Paul’s School, London. Francis Routh has suggested that this ‘fortuitous fact’ allowed the quintet to gain ‘wider acceptance than would otherwise have been the case.’ In spite of this caveat, I believe this is a work worthy of revival and should have a secure place in the repertoire.

Fricker’s recent compositions had included the Sonata for Organ, op.3 (1947) which was not heard until a recital given by Philip Dore on 9 June 1951 at All Souls’, Langham Place.  The Two Madrigals, op.4 were settings of Walter de la Mare’ verse. Around this period he wrote a Symphonietta for orchestra (1946-7) which was (seemingly) never performed and has remained in manuscript.  Earlier works included Three Preludes for piano, op.1 (1943-5) and Four Fughettas for Two Pianos, op.2 (1946).

Genesis

The story of the work’s genesis is given in Gamble and Lynch (2011). The Brain Wind Quintet flautist, Gareth Morris gave a recorded interview to Gamble (1 March 2006):

“It’s got a terrific badinerie in it. I used to play the Badinerie of Bach [the final movement of the B minor suite for flute and strings, BWV 1067] an awful lot. He [Fricker] said to me, ‘Would you like another badinerie for the Wind Quintet?’ I said, ‘That would be nice, yes.’ Some badinerie, isn’t it? A good piece. We played it quite often.”

A ‘badinerie’ literally means ‘teasing, playfulness and frivolity.’ It is sometimes given as ‘badinage’ by 18^th century French and German composers. This was used for light, playful pieces often in 2/4 time. ‘Modern’ examples include those by Cyril Scott and John Foulds.

After the Wind Quintet was completed during June 1947, Fricker sent the score to Dennis Brain for his comments.  Some months later, the composer was astonished to open his copy of the Radio Times and discover that the work was scheduled for broadcast.  It was the first time that Fricker had a work performed on the BBC. (Pettit, 1989)

Fricker’s Quintet won the 1947 Alfred J. Clements Prize of £20 (about £500 at 2016 prices). The adjudicators of this competition were Alan Bush, Howard Ferguson and Richard H. Walthew.  Clements (1858-1938) was organiser and secretary of the weekly South Place Sunday Concerts between 1887 and 1938.  After his death, a prize was established in his name.  .

Performance

The premiere of the Quintet was on 3 January 1949 during a BBC Third Programme broadcast. The recital was recorded at Studio 3, Maida Vale and featured the Brain Wind Quintet: Gareth Morris (flute), Leonard Brain (oboe), Stephen Waters (clarinet), Dennis Brain (horn) and Thomas Wightman (bassoon). Jacques Ibert’s Trois pièces brèves (1930) were also presented.

The first public performance of Fricker’s Quintet was also by the Brain Wind Quintet during a South Place Concert at the Conway Hall on 27 February 1949. Other works heard at this premiere included Beethoven’s Quintet, op.16 and Mozart’s Divertimento, K.270 for two oboes, horn and bassoon arranged for quintet by Anthony Baines. The Quintet were joined by Mr. George Malcolm when the piano was required. This was immediately followed by another recital at the Chelsea Town Hall at one of Boyd Neel’s Monday Night Concerts. Dennis Brain was partnered on this occasion by members of the Boyd Neel Orchestra.  

The Times (1 March 1949) reviewer considered that ‘there was evidence of serious thought behind all its four movements, with some skilful counterpoint in the canonic variations of the third [movement] and some imaginative instrumentation in the scherzo-like Badinerie and Musette preceding it.’

The Brian Wind Quintet would play Fricker’s Quintet many times over the following decade. It was featured at the 1951 West Berlin Festival and was heard at the Venice Festival on 12 September 1956.

Analysis

Peter Racine Fricker, Wind Quintet, op.5

I Moderato

II Badinerie: Vivace. Musette: Moderato e sostenuto

III Canonic Variations: Tema: Poco allegro. Canon I (at 4th): Adagio.

Canon II (at 5th): Poco andante. Canon III (at 2nd): Poco scherz. Canon IV

(at 6th): Vivo. Canon V (at 7th): Adagio

IV Finale: Vivo

The opening movement is divided into two parts: a ‘moderato’ written in 4/4 time is followed by an ‘allegro moderato’ in 3/4 time at bar 20.  The main theme of this movement is stated in the opening two bars.

Peter Evans, in the sleeve notes for the Argo recording of this Quintet, observes a gift for ‘delicate textures’ especially in the ‘fluttering second subject [of the ‘allegro moderato’] or the ‘badinerie.’’  

The second movement is presented complete with ‘conventional’ repeats followed by a musette (which does not really have the expected drone sound of the medieval bagpipe). The movement is concluded with a reprise of the ‘badinerie’.

The technicality of the five canonic variations and the fugal opening of the finale give some credence to the charge of ‘academicism’ often applied to this work. However, to any listener not equipped with the miniature score, Fricker’s contrpuntalism seems more like a partnership or dialogue between instruments rather than a dry as dust procedure.  It really does not occur to the listener to worry about the theoretical nature of canon at the 4^th, 5^th, 2^nd, 6^th or 7^th: it all sounds natural and not contrived. 

The finale is written mainly in 12/8 time which is sub-divided into 3/8, 3/4 and 3/8, thus presenting considerable rhythmical vitality. The opening theme is reprised, giving a strong sense of unity to the work. 

The Wind Quintet exhibits the influence of Paul Hindemith and Béla Bartok without descending into parody.

Publication

The score of the Wind Quintet, op.5 was published by Schott & Co. Ltd., in 1951.  It was reviewed in Musical Opinion (September 1951) ‘This composer lacks nothing in technical equipment and his inventive powers are of a very high order. It is only in warmth of feeling, - a much despised commodity with our younger composers, - that he seems to be lacking.’  This is an estimation that seems to have lost its force when the work is heard 67 years later.  Certainly there is an acerbic feel to some of this music, however there are moments when affability seems to be the dominant emotion. The reviewer concludes by suggesting that ‘…all [movements] demand playing of utmost neatness in detail and balance.’  

The Chesterian (April 1952) usefully suggested that the score would have been better served if it had shown the actual sound of the wind instruments rather that their transpositions. Colin Mason writes there that the ‘very independent part-writing shows as full realisation of the different capabilities of the five instruments, and the constantly changing distribution of the parts prevents monotony of timbre.’ Interestingly he suggests that Fricker has not attempted to ‘sharply [differentiate] instrumental characterisation’ or further the ‘pursuit of harmonic and instrumental sonorities for their own sake.’ 

To be continued...