QuadQuartet
 from Portugal QuadQuartet was formed in 2004 by four saxophone players with common musical backgrounds. Being a small chamber ensemble, it tries to stay true to its role of divulging new artistic means and above all present new music of today by incentivizing modern composers to write for the group. Since the beginning, QuadQuartet has found its place in contemporary music by working with composers such as Carlos Azevedo, Chiel Meijering, Ian Wilson, Hugo Correia, Jeffrey Davis, and Oscar Graça among others. Besides this connection, the group finds ways of reinventing conventional repertoire giving it their own personal sound. They play concerts throughout the country as well as abroad, namely in Spain, France, Holland and England. In January 2009 they released their first CD entitled Now Boarding dedicated to Portuguese and Dutch composers. They are now finishing the studio recording of their second album where the group invites dynamic artists from diverse areas to join them. Quad's members develop many educational workshops and hold teaching positions throughout the north of Portugal. They also collaborate with Remix Ensemble-Casa da Musica, RTP, Oporto National Orchestra-Casa da Musica, Philarmonia das Beiras, Fado Morse and La La La Ressonance. |
Where the Moorcoks Crow - Ian WilsonWhere the Moorcocks Crow was dedicated to the Portuguese Saxophone Quartet, QuadQuartet. There are two versions of this piece. The initial version was written for solo alto saxophone and saxophone quartet. This version was premiered and recorded live by Gerard McChrystal and QuadQuartet at the Aveiro SaxFest 2010 on May 15th. In the following months the composer made a second version of the piece for QuadQuartet alone without soloist. This version is now being played by several saxophone quartets throughout Europe. The first version of the piece (with Gerard McChrystal) can be found on QuadQuartet's new 2011 album.Short Cuts - Luis TinocoIn the composer's own words, the main purpose is to play with two possible meanings for "short cuts". That is, both with the idea of sharp and cutting musical gestures and the idea of taking a different, shorter, path to reach a specific destination.I Like Rats But I Don't Like Haydn - Chiel MeijeringThis piece is Meijering's way of saying he doesn't like classical music. The beginning and end of the piece are riddled with jazz licks that define the piece's overall feel while the middle section is almost a satire on the conventional approach found in many traditional classical pieces and chamber ensembles. |
The VIDEOS |
