Canadian music is the inspiration behind the title of this new CD, The Devil’s Dictionary, written by Toronto composer Gary Kulesha. Written from sketches and music for friends, Kulesha describes The Devil’s Dictionary as “a droll, acerbic compilation of humourous definitions.” Three other works, also drawn from the twentieth century, make up the balance of the disc. Jean Françaix’s polished and elegant 1948 Wind Quintet No. 1, has become one of his most popular works. György Ligeti remains one of the twentieth century’s most inventive composers. Forced early in his career to work in isolation, he experimented in simple structures of rhythm and sound in order to build his own new music. The wonderfully inventive Six Bagatelles, showing the influence of Hungarian folk music, have been described by Ligeti himself as “Bartok, with a little Stravinsky”. The Wind Quintet, Opus 43, by Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, is quite varied in its style and presentation, with the music winding its way through merry, baroque, elegiac and serious nature.

GYORGY LIGETI

1-6. Six Bagatelles

CARL NIELSEN

7-9. Wind Quintet, Op. 43

GARY KULESHA

10-13. Bagatelles from / de “The Devil’s Dictionary”

JEAN FRANCAIX

14-17. Wind Quintet No.1