Woodwind Quintet music offers a treasure trove of nuance and emotional depth, with a bright and warm essence that’s playful, inviting, and in some instances, exhilarating. Navona Records’ WINDSWEPT series continues its presentation of such works in its third volume.

Previously an Apple Music exclusive, the visual album WINDSWEPT VOL. III was released to Youtube on May 22, 2025.

With a new line-up of contemporary composers and a decorated modern chamber ensemble, WINDSWEPT VOL. III blends abstract musicality with vivid imagery in works brought to life by the celebrated Belfiato Quintet, a beacon of excellence in the world of chamber music.

Experience the Full Visual Album from Navona Records

On The Program:

  • Marilyn Bliss’ The Discovery of Honey, which transports us to the lush forests of the Rhodope Mountains, located in southern Bulgaria and northeastern Greece, where we hear the call of birds and other forest creatures

  • Ferdinando DeSena’s Rebound, featuring melodic and harmonic materials based on a sequence of 9 notes, its transpositions, and inversions

  • John G. Bilotta’s Brain Freeze, inspired by John F. McGrew’s series of stories about the adventures of Robby and his best friend, a small robot

  • John Carbon’s Woodwind Quintet, a lyrical and whimsical piece spanning moods from poignant to manic

  • Stephen Gryč’s Five American Portraits, a composition highlighting each instrument in the woodwind quintet family through quirky, historically-inspired character pieces

Learn more about the inspirations, processes, and realizations behind these composers’ works in the album’s Artist Roundtable.

Artist Roundtable: The Composers of WINDSWEPT VOL. III

Read on for an exclusive deep dive into the creative minds of Marilyn Bliss and Ferdinando DeSena.

Behind the Scenes

What did the PARMA production team need to produce this visual album? Two artificial sun lamps, several hundred meters of fresh-picked foliage, smoke machines, and some of the best performers in Europe surely covered the bases.

Filming for WINDSWEPT VOL. III brought the team to a restored castle in the heart of the Czech countryside. Bathed in neon pink glow, artificial sun lights, and tucked away in a barn turned contemporary art gallery in the Czech Republic’s historic Chateau Třebešice, the celebrated Belfiato Quintet donned outfits classy and colorful in preparation for the video shoot.

See more from the classical recording session in PARMA’s Production Recap.

Visual Productions, Atmos Recordings, and more: August Production Recap

Dive in to see how the team used each to create a striking visual production, and how they filled the rest of August with recording sessions around the world.

The works for WINDSWEPT VOL. III were selected from submissions to one of PARMA’s Featured Recording Opportunities. 

Explore our open Featured Recording Opportunities

Featured Recording Opportunity for Orchestral Works

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Choral Recording Opportunity at Studio Martínek

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