- Raschèr Saxophone Quartet
The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet is a professional ensemble of four saxophonists which performs classical and modern
music .Like most
saxophone quartet s, the RSQ features one player on each of the four most common sizes ofsaxophone : soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone.The quartet was founded in the
United States in 1969 by prominent classicalsaxophonist Sigurd Raschèr and his daughter, Carina (Karin). Some years later the quartet relocated toGermany and has been based there ever since.The Quartet has appeared at major concert halls in
Europe and theUnited States , includingCarnegie Hall andLincoln Center inNew York City , theKennedy Center inWashington, D.C. ,Opera Bastille Paris ,Royal Festival Hall inLondon ,Philharmonie Cologne ,Concertgebouw Amsterdam ,Schauspielhaus Berlin ,Musikverein Vienna ,Tonhalle Zürich The quartet has received strong reviews and was acclaimed as the "Uncrowned Kings of the Saxophone" by the
Wiener Zeitung .Personnel
*
Linda Bangs-Urban , baritone saxophone, 1969-1992
*Kenneth Coon , baritone saxophone, 1992-present
*John-Edward Kelly , alto saxophone, 1981-1991
*Christine Rall , soprano
*Carina Raschèr , soprano saxophone, 1969 until 2002
*Sigurd Raschèr , alto saxophone, 1969 until 1977
*Elliot Riley , alto saxophone, 2001-present
*Bruce Weinberger , tenor saxophone, 1969 - present
*Harry Kinross White, alto saxophone, 1990-2001
*"(Need information on other personnel)"Original works written for the quartet
Sigurd Raschèr 's tireless pursuit of classical composers led many of them to compose works dedicated to the quartet. The continued efforts by the group after Sigurd Raschèr's departure, combined with the impressive technical and musical abilities of the quartet, have led over 250 composers to dedicate works to the group.Composers who have written for the group include:
*Bergman
*Luciano Berio
*Günter Bialas
*Michael Denhoff
*Donatoni
*Firsowa
*Philip Glass
*Sofia Gubaidulina
*Halffter
*Walter S. Hartley
*Haubenstock-Ramati
*Kaipainen
*Keuris
*Ton de Leeuw
*Pehr Henrik Nordgren
*Per Nørgård
*Miklós Maros
*Raxach
*Raskatov
*Jan Sandström
*von Schweinitz
*Steven Stucky [http://www.stevenstucky.com]
*Dimitri Terzakis
*Urbanner
*John Worley
*Charles Wuorinen
*Iannis Xenakis
*Zechlin::"Numerous composers have been fascinated with the combination of the Raschèr {quartet} and orchestra, which has resulted in more than 20 new works for that combination, as well as invitations from many of the world's leading orchestras, including the
Gewandhaus Leipzig , theStaatskapelle Dresden , the Symphony Orchestra of theBavarian Radio Orchestra ,Bergen Philharmonic ,American Composer's Orchestra ,Orchestre de Paris ,Philharmonique Strasbourg ,Royal Liverpool Philharmonic ,Residentie Orchestra ofthe Hague ,Berlin Sinfonie Orchestra ,Vienna Symphony ,SWR Baden-Baden ,MDR Orchestra Leipzig ,Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Stuttgart ,Radio-Sinfonie Orchestra Cologne ,I Fiamminghi andSimon Rattle and theBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra ." -- Raschèr Quartet's web site [http://www.rsq-sax.com/]Recordings
Recitals:
*Cala CD 77003 "Music for Saxophones" (1999) - Bach, Glazounov, Reich, STARER,Glazunov ;KEURIS ;KOCH
*Caprice 21435 "The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet" (1995) - Xenakis, Bergman, et al
*BIS-CD 953 "America" - Wuorinen, Corbett, Starer, Adler, Florio, Peterson
*BIS-CD 1153 - Hindemith, Penderecki, Halffter, Nørgard, Xenakis
*BIS-NL-CD 5023 The Raschèr Saxophone OrchestraConcerti written for the Raschèr Quartet with Orchestra:
*Nonesuch 79496-2 -Philip Glass Concerto,Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra ,Dennis Russell Davies , Cond.;
*BIS-CD 1203 - Scandinavian Concertos, Kaipainen, Nilsson, and Hvoslef,Swedish Chamber Orchestra Works with unusual combinations:
*Philips 446 094-2 "Canticum Novissimi Testamenti II" (1996) -Luciano Berio ,London Sinfonietta Voices,Seymon Bychkov , Cond.
*BIS-CD 710 - Gubaidulina,Kroumata Percussion Ensemble
*Caprice 21441 "Anders Nilsson: KRASCH!" (1995) - Gubaidulina, Nilsson, Kox,Kroumata Percussion Ensemble Offshoot ensemble
The
Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra Lörrach , a professional saxophone orchestra with 12 musicians, was founded in 1999 or 2000. It is conducted byBruce Weinberger , the tenor saxophonist in the Raschèr Quartet, and includes among its ranks the current members of the quartet as well as some former members.External links
* [http://www.rsq-sax.com/ Raschèr Saxophone Quartet official web site]
* [http://www.rsq-sax.com/rascher_e.htm Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra Lörrach official web site]
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