Wind quintet

Hudobné centrum continues its efforts to revive the musical legacy of Mikuláš Moyzes (1872–1944) with the publication of two key yet virtually unknown works from his chamber music output. The Wind Sextet (for flute, oboe, clarinet, two horns, and bassoon), composed in 1934, and the original Wind Quintet from 1935 will undoubtedly prove to be valuable additions to the Slovak wind repertoire. The sheet music is available in both printed and digital formats.

Mikuláš Moyzes’s musical language was shaped primarily by the aesthetics of Romanticism, Slovak folk song, and his profound knowledge of the music of J. S. Bach.

In his Wind Quintet, Moyzes draws directly on the legacy of the Viennese Classics, particularly Joseph Haydn. The traditional four-movement design with Minuet and Trio, balanced and transparent structure, diatonically conceived thematic material, conventional tonal and harmonic relationships, clearly defined contrasts, and the overall clarity, balance, and economy of musical means are all hallmarks of the Classical style. Moyzes enriches these features by incorporating Slovak folk songs, which he not only quotes directly but also uses as the basis for his motivic development.

The present edition is based on a photocopy of the manuscript preserved in the František Matúš Collection at the State Archive in Prešov. We hope that this edition of the Wind Quintet—the first to appear ninety years after the work’s composition—will contribute to a broader appreciation and a more objective understanding of Mikuláš Moyzes’s rich and valuable compositional legacy.