Reger: The Last Words Of Christ
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Release Date: 25 March 2016
Label: Challenge Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 608917270129
Genres: Classical  
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
Residentie Orkest The Hague, Jan Willem de Vriend
Aseo Friesacher
Theo Plath, Armand Djikoloum, Olivier Stankiewicz, Sakoto Doi, Jordi Carrasco Hjelm
Philippe Thuriot
Pietro Battistoni, Rosso Verona Baroque Ensemble
Narratio Quartet
Piano Duo Scholtes & Janssens
Matteo Cicchitti, Musica Elegentia
Kristin Lee
David Daly, Duncan Honeybourne, Ondrej Vrabec, Daniel Wiesner, Graham Walker, David Trippett
John Bailey, Ed Jones, Steve Plews, Prima Facie Ensemble, William Garrett
Danish String Quartet
Il Divo
Triphonia
Andreas Willwohl & Daniel Heide
Rachel Talitman, Jean-Marc Fessard, Mavoudes Troullos, Pierre Quiriny, Ensemble Mendelssohn