Raschèr Saxophone Quartet

The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet is a professional ensemble of four saxophonists which performs classical and modern music.

Like most saxophone quartets, the RSQ features one player on each of the four most common sizes of saxophone: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone.

The quartet was founded in the United States in 1969 by prominent classical saxophonist Sigurd Raschèr and his daughter, Carina (Karin). Some years later the quartet relocated to Germany and has been based there ever since.

The Quartet has appeared at major concert halls in Europe and the United States, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Opera Bastille Paris, Royal Festival Hall in London, Philharmonie Cologne, Concertgebouw, 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

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• 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 1980
• 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

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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:

• Kalevi Aho
• Erik Bergman
• Luciano Berio
• Günter Bialas
• Michael Denhoff
• Franco Donatoni
• Elena Firsova
• Philip Glass
• Sofia Gubaidulina
• Halffter
• Walter S. Hartley
• Haubenstock-Ramati
• Jouni Kaipainen
• Keuris
• Ton de Leeuw
• Anders Nilsson[1]
• Pehr Henrik Nordgren
• Per Nørgård
• Miklós Maros
• Raxach
• Raskatov
• Jan Sandström
• von Schweinitz
• Steven Stucky[2]
• 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), the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, American Composer's Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Philharmonique Strasbourg, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra of the Hague, Berlin Sinfonie Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, SWR Baden-Baden, MDR Orchestra Leipzig, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Stuttgart, Radio-Sinfonie Orchestra Cologne, I Fiamminghi and Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. -- Raschèr Quartet's web site [3]

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 Orchestra

Concerti 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 by Bruce 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

• Raschèr Saxophone Quartet official web site
• Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra Lörrach official web site