Raschèr Saxophone Quartet

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

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, Berliner Philharmonie, 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, 1992–2019
John-Edward Kelly, alto saxophone, 1981–1991
Christine Rall, soprano saxophone, 2002–present
Carina Raschèr, soprano saxophone, 1969 until 2002
Sigurd Raschèr, alto saxophone, 1969 until 1980
Elliot Riley, alto saxophone, 2001–present
Bruce Weinberger, tenor saxophone, 1969–2014
Harry Kinross White, alto saxophone, 1990–2001
Andreas van Zoelen, tenor saxophone, 2014–present
Oscar Trompenaars, baritone saxophone, 2019–present
Iria Garrido Meira, baritone saxophone, 2023–present

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:

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 former web site, www.rsq-sax.com

Recordings

Recitals:

Strange Exclaiming Music (2009) - Eric Moe; NAXOS 7951592
The Concerto Project, Volume 3 (2008) - Philip Glass; OMM0042
Victoria Borisova-Ollas - The Triumph of Heaven (2008) - Victoria Borisova-Ollas; PSCD 171
Saxophone (2002) - Philip Glass; OMM0006
Europe (2001) - Hindemith, Penderecki, Halffter, Nørgard, Xenakis; BIS-CD 1153
America (1999) - Wuorinen, Corbett, Starer, Adler, Florio, Peterson; BIS-CD 953
Music for Saxophones (1999) - Bach, Glazounov, Reich, Starer, Keuris, Koch; Cala CD 77003
The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet (1994) - Xenakis, Bergman, Dünser, Denhoff, Bialas, Terzakis; Caprice 21435
The Rascher Saxophone Quartet (1987) - Bach, Glaser, Karkoff, Koch, Maros, Sandstrom; Caprice 21349
Works Of Nicola Lefanu (1986) - Karkoff, LeFanu, Maros, Urbanner; Col Legno

Concerti written for the Raschèr Quartet with Orchestra:

In Memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren (2012) - Nordgren, Lapland Chamber Orchestra John Storgards, Cond.; ABCD 322
The Eight Sounds (2011) - Beamish, Chen Yi, Stucky, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Robin Engelen, Cond.; BIS-CD 1821
Water Music (2009) - Dean, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Heinz Karl Gruber, Cond.; BIS-CD-1576
From Equinox to Solstice (2003) Nilsson, Hvoslef, and Kaipainen - Swedish Chamber Orchestra; BIS-CD-1203
Robin de Raaff - Symphony No. 2 "Two Worlds Colliding" - Radio Kamer Filharmonie, Emilio Pomarico, cond.; Melodies Unheard - Challenge Records CC 72762
Oolit (2002) - Maros, Philharmonia Hungarica, Georg Alexander Albrecht, Cond.; Caprice 21670
Philip Glass Symphony No.2 (1998), Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies, Cond.; Nonesuch 79496-2

Works for Saxophone Quartet and Voices

Circadian Rhythms:Mathew Rosenblum (2012) - Mathew Rosenblum, Calmus Ensemble; New World Records 80736
Chorbuch-Les Inventions Dadolphe (2012) - Mauricio Kagel, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Klaas Stok, Cond.; Winter & Winter 910 191-2
Canticum Novissimi Testamenti II (1996) - Luciano Berio, London Sinfonietta Voices, Seymon Bychkov, Cond.; Philips 446 094-2

Works with other instruments:

Die Kunst der Fuge (2011) - Bach, Carsten Klomp, Organ.; No Label
New York Counterpoint (2002) - Bach, Denhoff, Grieg, Kastner, Reich, Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra, Bruce Weinberger, Cond.; BIS-NL-CD-5023
Gubaidulina (1995) - Kroumata Percussion Ensemble; BIS-CD 710
Anders Nilsson: KRASCH! (1995) - Gubaidulina, Nilsson, Kox, Kroumata Percussion Ensemble; Caprice 21441

Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra

The Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra is 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