Catalog

Woodwind Quintet music offers a treasure trove of nuance and emotional depth, with a bright and warm essence that's playful, inviting, and in some instances, exhilarating. Navona Records’ WINDSWEPT series continues its presentation of such works in its third volume. With a fresh line-up of contemporary composers and a decorated modern chamber ensemble, WINDSWEPT VOL III blends abstract musicality with vivid imagery. Stephen Gryč’s Five American Portraits characterizes historical figures through quirky instrumental solos, while John Bilotta’s Brain Freeze, John Carbon’s Woodwind Quintet, and Ferdinando DeSena’s Rebound explore lyrical, whimsical, and modern tonalities. Marilyn Bliss’ The Discovery of Honey celebrates mythic joy and discovery, capturing Bacchus’s exuberance in a lush, dynamic soundscape. Available in Dolby Atmos and as a visual album, these works are brought to life by the celebrated Belfiato Quintet, a beacon of excellence in the world of chamber music.

The aptly-titled HEAVY PEDAL VOL. 2 from Navona Records is the second installment of an organ-centric series of albums. Featuring the music of composers Christopher Hoh, Deon Price, Richard E Brown, and John Rommereim, the collection lives up to its name; these organ works are some of the most powerful that classical music has to offer. From Hoh’s Concertino Corona, inspired by the hardships and seeds of hope from COVID-19, to Brown’s Six Chorale Preludes on Favorite Hymn Tunes, which were composed using Brown’s encyclopedic understanding of historical hymns, HEAVY PEDAL VOL. 2 brings the organ down from the choir loft to allow all listeners a greater appreciation of this incredibly dynamic instrument.