Dedicated To Xenon Saxophone Quartet

• Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1904): Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet):
• 1 Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): I. Präludium 02:35
• 2 Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): II. Sarabande 03:07
• 3 Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): III. Gavotte 03:20
• 4 Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): IV. Air 05:17
• 5 Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): V. Rigaudon 04:04
• Georg Friedrich Haas (b. 1953):
• 6 Haas: Saxophone Quartet 10:43
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet):
• 7 Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): I. Allegretto 07:44
• 8 Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): II. Andante 04:03
• 9 Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): III. Menuetto. Allegretto 05:47
• 10 Mozart: String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet): IV. Allegretto 05:58
• Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924):
• 11 Puccini: Crisantemi, SC 65 (Arr. for Saxophone Quartet) 06:04
• Daniel Alvarado Bonilla (1985):
• 12 Bonilla: Viridian Vestiges 06:47
• Total Runtime 01:05:29

Info for Dedicated To

„Dedicated to” is the Xenon Saxophone Quartet’s debut album. The Quartet is a cutting-edge ensemble in the world of chamber music. The winner of many prizes, this young ensemble, has presented variegated, contrasty programmes combining classical music with contemporary compositions, including world premieres or forgotten works from past centuries, classical string quartets and original pieces for saxophone quartet.

Xenon Saxophone Quartet

Xenon Saxophone Quartet
is a cutting-edge ensemble in the world of chamber music. Ever since its foundation in 2010 this young ensemble, the winner of many international prizes, has presented variegated, contrasty programmes combining classical music with contemporary compositions, including world premieres or forgotten works from past centuries, classical string quartets and original pieces for saxophone quartet. ​

The ensemble takes its name from xenon, an extremely rare noble gas. Among the noble gases, this monatomic element is capable of entering the greatest number of chemical compounds, and thus embodies the quartet’s ideal of interplay and ensemble sonority. Its initial, “X”, symbolises the fact that, through work, four individualists with the right chemistry and a passion for the saxophone and unusual concert programmes have coalesced into a single artistic unity. Together they develop performances that preserve the spirit of their chosen compositions while satisfying their desire for individual expression. ​

The quartet’s members – Lukas Stappenbeck (soprano), Anže Rupnik (alto), Álvaro Arias (tenor) and Benjamin Reichel (baritone) – all studied with Daniel Gauthier at Cologne University of Music and Dance, where they took master’s degrees in chamber music and contemporary music. They also received major impetus and insights from such leading musicians as Ulrich Isfort (Minguet Quartet), Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet), Heime Müller (a former member of the Artemis Quartet), Dirk Mommertz (Fauré Quartet), Hans-Dietrich Klaus and David Smeyers. ​

Xenon collaborates with contemporary composers and commissions them to write new pieces for saxophone quartet. Recent examples include Daniel Alvarado Bonilla, Damian Scholl and Macarena Rosmanich. The four musicians also work directly with composers to prepare performances of existing works, most recently the Saxophone Quartet of Georg Friedrich Haas. ​

A scholarship recipient of the German National Music Competition (Deutscher Musikwettbewerb), the Xenon Saxophone Quartet gives concerts in Germany and abroad, appears at such festivals as the Ludwigsburg Palace Festival, takes part in Yehudi Menuhin’s LiveMusicNow in Cologne and performs with various broadcasting corporations (DLF, WDR, NDR, MDR and SWR).

“Dedicated to…” is the Xenon Saxophone Quartet’s début CD.

Booklet for Dedicated To