Harmonie & Turcherie: around the year 1800, Western music was experiencing a merging of two phenomena; the success of the octect and the fashion or orientalism.The typical octet of the Harmonie, consisting of pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons, was reinforced by louder wind instruments such as trumpets, trombones, etc. and an array of percussion instruments. That sound fascinated the most eminent composers of the time.Zefiro presents us with a varied program by these composers, alternating Turkish marches with chamber music works in a more operatic and deeper vein, thus revealing the versatility and colors of period wind instruments.
