Woodwind quartets are slightly less common than woodwind quintets, but that doesn't mean they aren't an essential part of the chamber music repertoire. Listed below is a small sample of the Albert Alphin Library's collection of woodwind quartets.
Carl Phillipp Stamitz was widely known for his symphonies - he composed over 100 works in the larger genre including his concertos, many of which are now lost. This woodwind quartet consists of bassoon, horn, clarinet, and oboe, but many of the parts can be substituted for other instruments. This video is a recording of the first movement.
Available at M457 .S735 op.8 n.2 in the Albert Alphin Library.
Jacques Ibert was a French modernist composer who lived through both World Wars. His compositional style was noticeably classical, with the exception of his harmonies. He wrote both a woodwind quartet and woodwind quintet. His quartet consists of two short movements that contrast between being rhythmic and songlike.
Available at M457.2 .I2 M6 1923 in the Albert Alphin Library.
Elliot Carter became known as one of the most respected composers of the later half of the 20th century, blending together European modernism and American ultra-modernism into a unique compositional style. His only woodwind quartet was written in 1950, a time of upcoming prominence for him. This was considered a breakthrough period of his compositional technique and written at the same time as a series of studies for timpani.
Available at M457.2 .C334 E71 1959 in the Albert Alphin Library.
Alexandr Glazunov was a Russian composer who studied under Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and was well-known for his saxophone concerto. He also wrote a saxophone quartet that was composed shortly before his saxophone concerto. Although the traditional woodwind quartet consists of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, saxophone quartets have emerged as another type of woodwind quartet grouping.
Available at M457.2 .G58 op.109 1959 Cop.2 in the Albert Alphin Library.
Heitor Villa-Lobos was considered to be prolific in combining Brazilian and European musical styles. He only wrote one woodwind quartet. This was composed at the same time as his woodwind quintet.
Available at M457.2 .V549 Q3 2009 in the Albert Alphin Library.
Iannis Xenakis was a French composer of Greek heritage who revolutionized 20th century music with his compositional style. He is known for incorporating physical space into his compositions. XAS, written for saxophone quartet, is one of his lesser-known works, especially outside the realm of saxophone and woodwind quartets.
Available at M457.2 .X45 X3 2011 in the Albert Alphin Library.