‘Modern: Designating the most innovative forms of art in a given period,
particularly those of the 20th century.’ This definition from the
French Larousse dictionary explains the performers’ choice of title –
Modernistes – for this new anthology of music for wind instruments: what
draws the attention in these works – in different ways at different
times and in different fields – are their innovative, progressive and
adventurous qualities. Four of the composers featured on this album can
legitimately be associated with what is very broadly known as Modernism,
referring to the general proliferation of new ideas and new musical
aesthetics at the turn of the 20th century and beyond. As for the two
works by Philippe Hersant and Thierry Escaich, they call on us to
reflect on what modernity means to us today. And, while it is easy to
set Modernism in opposition to traditionalism, it is also interesting to
distinguish between a composer’s personality and his or her approach to
composing.
