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
The Counterpoints
Narratio Quartet
Aart Bergwerff
Roberto Prosseda
Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Dejan Lazic, Jan Willem de Vriend
Ton Koopman
Duo Saraswati
Yoichi Sugiyama
Slava Guerchovitch
Francesco Ledda, Opera Discovery Orchestra, Stefanna Kybalova, Valer Borin, Marcello Lippi, Paolo B
Karolos
Daniel Di Prinzio, Ihor Kordiuk
Nora von Marschall
Isabel Schicketanz
The Counterpoints
