Release Date: 25 March 2016
Label: Challenge Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 608917270129
Genres: Classical
Description
This is a totally original project - brand new arrangements for saxophones of Haydn's 'Seven Last Words', performed by the Ebonit Saxophone Quartet, with four of its movements replaced, uniquely and memorably, with pieces from Reger, Webern, Sibelius and Shostakovich. The renowned soprano Claron McFadden recites Jesus Christ's words before each movement.
The choral texts form the foundations and framework of the special cycle assembled here. Singer and voice artist Claron McFadden takes on this speaking role and the saxophones of the Ebonit Quartet provide musical meditations on the spoken word. The music includes three movements from Haydn's cycle and four compositions from much later: 'Nachtlied' (1914) by Max Reger, 'Langsamer Satz' (1905) by Anton Webern, the third movement of 'Voces Intimae' (1909) by Sibelius and the third movement of the String Quartet No. 7 (1960) by Shostakovich. Haydn concluded his cycle with the horrifying 'Il terremoto' (the Earthquake) but here it's the agitated music of Shostakovich. The pieces by Reger, Webern and Sibelius are permeated respectively by feelings of contemplation, yearning and intense grief; moods that comprehensively encapsulate the impact of the words from the Cross.
The Ebonit Saxophone Quartet is a vivacious and entertaining ensemble founded in 2011 at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The four musicians quickly made for themselves a name in the Netherlands and throughout Europe, performing in major halls and international festivals, including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Tivoli Vredenburg in Utrecht, the Bachtage in Würzburg and the World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews.
Personnel: Ebonit Saxophone Quartet, Claron McFadden (voice)
Tracklisting
Narratio Quartet
Piano Duo Scholtes & Janssens
Matteo Cicchitti, Musica Elegentia
Cappella Pratensis, Stratton Bull, Sollazzo Ensemble
La Sfera Armoniosa, Oscar Verhaar, Mike Fentross
Simona Marchesi, Bartolomeo Dandolo Marchesi
Ben Kim, Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend
Torleif Thedeen (cello) & Marianna Shirinyan (piano)
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Berit Norbakken (soprano) & Solmund Nystabakk (lutes)
Magnus Boye Hansen, Mathias Halvorsen
Anna Gourari, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana & Markus Poschner
Gavin Bryars
Vladimir Delman; Milan RAI Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Schippers; Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai; New York Philharmonic Orchestra; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
