BAR HARBOR – There’s nothing like a glorious autumn afternoon to open your eyes to how fresh and new every second can be. You see a pattern of leaves, start to enjoy it and, just like that, a gust of wind gives you a new mix.

So it was in Bar Harbor last Sunday at the Arcady Music Festival’s first concert of the fall-winter season, featuring the Boston-based brass quintet Innovata, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. In the quiet moments before the concert started, there was time to appreciate the play of stained glass light on the inside and the swirling colors outside.

Then came the music. Innovata (Christopher Sala and Karen Muenziger, trumpet; Justin D. Cohen, horn; Jamison A. Clark, trombone; and Michael S. Milnarik, tuba and director) began with “Galop” by Shostakovich, and continued with the allegro from Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.” Right away, the range of this ensemble was apparent – from the good humor of the opener through the long, smooth phrases of the

Bach. Then, after voicing concern over playing two pieces “Bach to Bach,” Innovata performed the Prelude and Fugue No. 6. Before every piece, one performer or another would make some informal remarks which always seemed to be part of a conversation between the musicians and the audience.

Several of the most profound works were performed during the next portion of the concert: Hovhaness’ “Prayer of St. Gregory,” Mozart’s “Dies Irae” from the “Requiem,” and Albinoni’s “Adagio.” These are large-scale works, but, thanks to careful arrangements, the essence of each work came through very clearly without losing any power or emotion.

The Bar Harbor audience received an extra treat. Before intermission, Arcady Youth Competition winner Henry Kramer played three solo piano pieces. Kramer, an eighth-grader from Cape Elizabeth, showed great talent while playing one of his own compositions, plus one by Debussy and one by Chopin. There was no question about his technique, and he showed a special knowledge. Already he knows that it’s not just what you do with your technique, but what you don’t do, that makes music. He made wonderful music.

The second half of the concert as printed on the program was intended to be lighter. “Saint Louis Blues,” “Little Brown Jug,” “12th Street Rag,” and “Leader of the Big Time Band” were fun, and a tune called “Karen” (“the only piece written for us … well, for one of us”) was a beautiful song in every sense. The concert ended with John Phillip Sousa, and the encore was “When the Saints Come Marchin’ In,” played by Innovata as they walked out of the church.

After the music ended, it felt like the autumnal gusts had reached inside the building and remixed the program items like leaves tumbling in the wind. The concert as programmed would have been wonderful; the concert as performed was even better.

The Arcady Music Festival next will feature the chamber orchestra, Kremlin, performing at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Bar Harbor; at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Bangor; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church; and at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at the Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro.