The League of Composers Wind Quintet: Its Members, History, Works, and Role in Inter-American Diplomacy

Abstract

The League of Composers Wind Quintet (LCWQ) consisted of five performers who were also prolific American composers. Assembled in 1941, the LCWQ was carefully selected from across the nation and dispatched on a two-month tour throughout Latin America under the auspices of the Office of Inter-American Affairs. Although little information remains about the quintet or their Latin American tour, it is the members, music, and the mission of this short-lived ensemble that calls for examination and research. Most of the pieces composed and performed by the members of the group for the tour have fallen from the performance repertoire of present-day wind quintets, and indeed may be lost. However, some of the works have been published. This study will document the short history of the LCWQ, its tour, and the music performed.