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Amstel Quartet Season 2009 - 2010 and beyond

Below a selection of programs that the Amstel Quartet is currently presenting in its 2009 / 2010 season, and a preview of the 2010 / 11 season. While each of these programs results from a very original approach, they all stand for the diversity of the Amstel Quartet’s repertoire that is highly determined by the musical taste of each of its individual members.

Of course, any program can be adapted according to the presenter’s needs and wishes , the Amstel Quartet is open to any suggestions you might have. You can also have a look at our repertoire list.

While this is a general overview of our programming, this list doesn’t cover some very specific cooperations. Feel free to subscribe to our newsletter or check our agenda if you want to be up to date about everything that happens around the Amstel Quartet.

Dedicated to ... Bach

Music by Bach combined with works that were all specifically written for the Amstel Quartet. There is no doubt that most composers, if not all, have been inspired by Bach’s immortal music in aspects of their work. The list of composers that have written for the Amstel Quartet is extensive, and new works are added on a regular basis. Therefore this program will be finalized, in accordance with the presenter, at the moment of booking.

Some composers that have written for the Amstel Quartet: Jorrit Dijkstra, Ruud van Eten, Jane O’Leary, Ian Wilson, Allan Segall, Ton de Kruyf, Ilja Rijngoud, Maarten Altena ...

Lyrica

Speaking, howling, crying ... and above all: singing! The Amstel Quartet shines with its most enchanting melodies in “Lyrica”, playing mainly own arrangements, like a “Suite” by Ravel (including his famous Pavane), Bach, Franck , plus lyrical (original!) music by Nyman, Dun and Glass.

Time Machine

The first “classic” of saxophone quartet literature is obviously the Bb Quartet by Russian composer Glazunov. Many composers followed his example, like Nyman in his “Song for Tony”. But what would have happened if the saxophone would have been invented at an earlier stage in music history? The Amstel Quartet likes speculation, and is always looking out for works composed prior to the Glazunov that suit the saxophone. In the mean time, they are convinced that Bach would have composed for the instrument if it had existed at the time. Would Haydn and Mozart have done the same? Be convinced by the Amstel Quartet.

Amstel Raga, with Niti Ranjan Biswas - tablas

The two worlds of virtuoso tabla player Niti Ranjan Biswas and the Amstel Quartet were first brought together in “Laad Los” , a music theater performance by Dogtroep. Since then, this cooperation has lead to an addiction on both sides: the five musicians decided to pursue and deepen their musical quest after the last shows with Dogtroep were done. Contemporary composers such as Sylvia Maessen, Wim Hendrickx, Oene van Geel, Jorrit Dijkstra and Ian Wilson all dealt with the challenge of combining western musical concepts with Indian traditional music in their very personal way. And although the concept itself of combining western music with elements of Indian traditional music isn’t new, the specific combination of saxophone quartet and tablas definitely is !

Amstel Outreach

Over the last few years the Amstel Quartet has extensively toured the United States: here it is common practice to combine a regular chamber music concert with an educational “outreach”. Therefore the Amstel Quartet has gained a lot of experience in young public’s concerts (aged 6 - 18). Their educative concerts are , in fact, not really educative in the first place: the members of the ensemble want to give their young listeners a good time without turning their concert into a sleek “show”. Their outreaches are less about “teaching”, but more about sharing their enthusiasm for (chamber) music with the kids, why they love the music they are playing. General atmosphere is informal and distance between quartet and public is kept as short as possible. The musicians wear their regular clothes , give explanations about the works, there is room for Q & A, and if possible they take advantage of the entire performance space.

Program to be determined in accordance with the presenter, but preferably as diverse as possible. A well- selected mix of old, romantic, classical and contemporary music, for instance works by Bach, Mozart, Riley, Brahms, Wilson, Glass ...

Amstel Quartet and United Instruments of Lucilin

The Amstel Quartet and United Instruments join their forces in this edgy, all - contemporary and surprising program: string quartet, piano, percussion, and a foursome of saxophones: a powerful combination that is definitely needed for Louis Andriessen’s classic Workers Union. Ton de Kruyf finds his inspiration in Nepalese culture, and Franco Donatoni’ s ludic, elegant and transparent style is ear - tantalizing. This project is work-in-progress: Reza Namavar, a young dutch composer, has recently been commissioned a piece for this combination, and the Gaudeamus Foundation, Netherlands, will cooperate by providing a bunch of new works by young promising composers in september 2009. United Instruments of Lucilin: www.lucilin.lu

Amstel Quartet and Duo Vertigo (percussion) : Terminal Velocity

Both winners of the Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition 2005, the Amstel Quartet and Duo Vertigo decided that time had come to bundle their musical forces: presenting existing works by the “The Hague School”, by Jacob ter Veldhuis, Cligg Crego, Maarten Altena along with an own commission by young dutch talent Giel Vleggaar , these two dynamic ensembles will take you on a highly energetic musical journey!

Happy Birthday: Arvo Pärt and Terry Riley!

A double 75th birthday in 2010 that needs to be celebrated: two composers that have cooperated intensively with the Amstel Quartet and have personally authorized arrangements of their music by its members.

Dig in the hypnotizing music of one of the fathers of american minimalism, and the spiritual world of baltic composer Arvo Paert! A true experience of space and time !

Symphonic Amstel, with Pascal Meyer, piano

The second half of the 19th century saw a substantial growth of the orchestra with an expansion of its sound possibilities , liberating the symphonic form. It isn’t a coincidence that such a versatile instrument like the saxophone, in terms of sound possibilities, was invented in 1846. And even though many composers didn’t have a chance at that time to get acquainted with the instrument: their music and the instrument often match perfectly !

Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, had a clear acoustic concept of this young instrument: it needed to produce a mild sonorous sound that , at the same time, had the ability projection that was required by outdoor military band services. This specific research finally resulted in a highly flexible instrument that could adapt to any situation, and therefore has found its way in classical, jazz, pop, folk music.

It’s this flexibility in sound that sometimes makes you wonder if you are listening to a whole orchestra, even if it’s just four saxophones playing. These sonorous characteristics, along with the virtuosic possibilities of the saxophone, form the base of this program.

Symphonic Amstel consists of arrangements of symphonic music and original quartets that emphasize the symphonic qualities of the instrument.

Program example:

• Brahms / Franck: Chamber Symphony (arr. Remco Jak)
• Richard Wagner: Selections from the Ring (arr. Gijs Kramers)
• Tristan Keuris: Music for saxophones
• Gabriel Fauré: Pelleas et Mélisande (saxophone quartet and piano) arr. Wijnand van Klaveren
• Rimsky Korsakoff - Scheherazade (Saxofoonkwartet en Piano)
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude en Fuga (arr. Mellema/Apswoude)

A Child of Our Time

It’s not without reason that the Amstel Quartet is considered to be a true ambassador of contemporary music. They have the ability to perform the most complex score with such compassion, accuracy and integrity that all prejudices about contemporary music evaporate , they lead the listener to the essence of the work. This enthusiastic and communicative approach constantly inspires new composers to write for the Amstel Quartet. In cooperation with the Quartet you can combine existing works by established composers such as Louis Andriessen, Iannis Xenakis , Franco Donatoni, Hugues Dufourt, Tristan Keuris, Philip Glass , Maarten Altena, Terry Riley with works by Marijn Simons, Merlijn Twaalfhoven, Giel Vleggaar, Ian Wilson, Maarten Altena, Jorrit Dijkstra, Ilja Reijngoud, Oene van Geel , Anthony Fiumara, Renske Vrolijk Sander Germanus ... that have been written for the ensemble.

More information

For more information and bookings please contact us.

Some excerpts of these programs can be found on our YouTube channel.

If you are interested in visiting one of our shows, or want to know when a specific program listed above will be performed, please contact us and we will put you on our guestlist.