Joel Garthwaite Soprano Lauren Hamer Hannah Riches Baritone Alto Lewis Evans Flux – Lunar Saxophone Quartet Tenor Disc 1 Disc 2 1 LM-7: Aquarius, Gabriel Jackson – 7.27 1 VENT, Graham Fiktin – 8.24 2 Flux, Ashley John Long – 9.51 (2–5) 4 Chair Legs, Eric Schwartz 3 Diaphanousphere, Lucy Pankhurst – 7.08 2 La Valse – 2.15 (4–9) Five Short pieces + Four Whispers 3 Lithium Tango – 3.20 for Archie’s Chair, Keith Tippett 4 Tarantella d’Amore – 2.53 4 The Archer – 2.08 5 But these chair legs were St Michaels 5 The Blacksmith – 4.53 and all angels – 2.22 6 The Starwatcher – 4.31 6 In Memoriam, 7 The Swordsman – 2.19 James Williamson – 10.33 8 The Pastor – 3.29 7 De L’hotel de la ville a la Concorde, 9 Four Whispers for Archie’s Chair – 1.56 Michael Nyman – 6.45 Total: 44.09 mins Total: 36.45 mins Flux

Imagine the situation, in the second The Lunar Saxophone Quartet, formed in who are their contemporaries, working in half of the eighteenth century, when 2002, belong only to a second generation London, where they are now based, and the string quartet was still a young and of such ensembles, moving away from Cardiff, where the group was originally unestablished genre, its moods and the jazz orientated groups of the 70s, formed, alongside more established humours waiting to be unlocked and such as the World Saxophone Quartet figures who have left an impression on discovered for the first time. In the first and, in a British context, following on their playing. The work heard on this disc decade of the twenty-first century, the from the pioneering work of the Apollo then reflects a genuine “flux” of styles and saxophone quartet is in a similar position Quartet, formed in 1985. Like any quartet represents the enthusiasms and tastes of and is, perhaps, one of the few genuinely not content to perform arrangements the group. new “classical” music ensembles to have alone, commissioning new work lies recently emerged. In the last century, at the centre of LSQ’s philosophy. Flux, professors at the Conservatoire de Paris originally planned as its debut album, led saxophone quartets, but they attracted but now appearing at a later juncture, is little or no music of significance. Only in devoted to music either composed for LSQ the last thirty years has the character of or composers with whom they particularly the medium taken its place within the identify. Like all saxophone quartets, present zeitgeist: its sound rooted in a jazz LSQ have an individual performance past, but now embracing the multiplicity style. The music on this disc reflects their of stylistic references that lie at the heart attempt to build a repertoire that is both of new music at the present time. coherent in terms of the group and which will be accessible, without compromise. It includes the work of young composers CD1

Gabriel Jackson (b.1962) which are derived from the ten letters and noted for his choral music and, in January Ashley John Long (b.1986) LM-7: Aquarius the number of the title. Its character is 2010, was appointed as the BBC Singers’ Flux unashamedly extrovert; in the composer’s Associate Composer; a development Between 1968 and 1972 the United States words, “a show-off display piece with that can doubtless be traced back to his Flux is structured in the following launched a series of manned space spot-lit solos for each player, a burst of youth when he served as a chorister at manner: two outer sections of mainly missions under the name “Apollo” which collective virtuosity to blast them into Canterbury Cathedral. Gabriel Jackson was static material framing a middle included the first moon landing (in July orbit and beyond, eventually reaching a born in Bermuda, and studied composition section of more rapid writing. The two 1969). LM-7: Aquarius was the seventh much stiller, distant place”. at the Royal College of Music with Richard outer sections were formulated using lunar module that NASA sent into space, Blackford and John Lambert. His music calculations to determine the frequency on the Apollo 13 mission. It was launched LM-7: Aquarius was commissioned by has been widely heard both in Britain and of Ion Flux; the photon opening angle of in April 1970 and would have been the the Lunar Saxophone Quartet, and first abroad and is now being recorded with an individual electron as a function of the third landing on the Moon, but the performed by the quartet in St Mary’s increasing frequency on labels such as device critical energy convolved with the Command Module developed a technical Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, in August Hyperion, Delphian, NMC, Telarc, Linn electron beam divergence. The resultant failure and the three astronauts aboard 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. and Signum. In addition he also has a pitches were calculated by taking readings were forced to use the Lunar Module’s strong involvement with the visual arts of photon energy at certain points on resources as a “lifeboat” during the return About the Composer with compositions that have taken work the graph, and then their frequencies trip to Earth, only narrowly escaping Gabriel Jackson has gained a reputation by artists Richard Long, Ian Hamilton calculated and converted into pitches with their lives. Gabriel Jackson’s work as one of the most resourceful and Finlay and Robert Mapplethorpe as its within the nearest quartertone. for saxophone quartet takes not only its inventive of British composers, with an starting point. title from the mission but also the work’s output whose technical finish, elegance www.myspace.com/gabrieljackson The resultant pitch sequence is heard in underlying structure: the piece is in eleven and refinement command particular their entirety during the opening and then continuous sections, the proportions of attention. In the last decade he has been subjected to manipulation at certain points throughout the work and the resultant About the Composer Lucy Pankhurst (b.1981) About the Composer harmonies also produce various states of Ashley John Long has carved a niche Diaphanousphere Brass bands and the brass tradition are frequency oscillation which are another as a composer of innovative scores for central to Liverpool-born Lucy Pankhurst primary concern of the work. The work improvisers that balance fine detail with Diaphanousphere is so named to illustrate who came to music playing tenor horn also uses various serial techniques but it is freedom and flexibility. He is also rapidly the delicate transparency of the work and in Warrington and Cheshire before the mathematical principle that was the emerging as one of the most virtuosic its ultimate recapitulation. The music continuing her studies at the Royal chief aspect involved in the compositional double bassists in the U.K, specialising is essentially abstract, but is indicative Northern College of Music. Composition process. Composer’s note in contemporary repertoire, creating of snowfall; gentle and restless, where came later, but once embarked upon an innovative performance techniques and fragmented melodies are passed between M Mus with Adam Gorb, she embraced Flux was written for and premiered by performing as a soloist throughout Europe. each member of the quartet and piano. every opportunity to develop her own the Lunar Saxophone Quartet at the He was born in South Wales, and studied There is a ‘festive’ theme introduced in technique and personal voice. Her recent Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, double bass at the Royal Welsh College of the second section, which provides a stark works for brass, including Wired (2009) Cardiff, in November 2006. Published by Music & Drama, Cardiff. As a composer, contrast to the darker opening. have established her as one of the strongest Staunch Music. his recent commissions include works for The piece aims to create a very elegant and most individual new voices to emerge the Lunar Saxophone Quartet, percussion sound world, in which the saxophones in the genre of works for brass, which she soloist Dave Danford as well as a big and piano have a constantly changing has described as an “endangered species”. band work for Welsh harpist Catrin relationship. Composer’s note In common with many composers of her Finch. Leading jazz orchestras the world Diaphanousphere was written for and generation, her influences are diverse: folk over have performed his jazz works and premiered by the Lunar Saxophone music is important, as are composers as they have also received broadcasts on Quartet and Helen Mills (piano) at diverse as Vaughan Williams and Ligeti, radio and television. Wesley’s Chapel, London, in February through to Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, www.myspace.com/ashleyjohnlong 2007. Published by Staunch Music. Muse and E.L.O. – www.lucypankhurst.com CD2

Keith Tippett (b.1947) unison mirrors the cut and thrust of the About the Composer Graham Fitkin (b.1963) Five Short Pieces + Four Whispers for Archie’s Chair art of fencing. Finally, a chorale-like final Keith Tippett has been at the forefront of VENT piece, placed in the richest registers of contemporary European jazz and new music Five Short Pieces + Four Whispers for Archie’s the saxophones, reflects the gravitas of for over forty years. Amongst the multiplicity VENT was originally composed in the Chair were composed during the winter The Pastor. of roles he undertakes are those of pianist, autumn of 1994 for four clarinets (two B of 2003–04 for the Apollo Saxophone composer, bandleader, band member and flat clarinets and two bass clarinets). The Quartet who gave the premiere at the Appended to the Five Short Pieces is a musical educator. His work ranges from version heard on this disc is a transcription Brighton Festival on 7 May 2004. Lasting sixth: Four Whispers for Archie’s Chair. Archie and unique free improvisation as a solo pianist for saxophone quartet made by the no more than two or three minutes each, Rene were neighbours. Archie was dying and with duos and small groups such as the composer. The score was commissioned each piece takes as a title an occupation of Parkinson’s disease and Keith and Julie quartet Mujician, to compositions for, and by No Strings Attached early in 1995, or craft of the kind that might have been lent him a chair with a bowed back for performances with, contemporary classical with funds provided by South East Arts. found in late medieval society. The first support. Thereafter Keith, Julie and their groups (including the Composers’ Ensemble, (The Archer) alternates key clicks with children referred to the chair as “Archie’s Kokoro and the Kreutzer and Elysian String The idea of writing for a family of unison passages that gradually move into Chair”. Lasting just a couple of minutes and Quartets). During this career he has led three instruments with a common tone the foreground. Flickering arpeggios and demonstrating an almost Skempton-like major bands; Centipede, The Ark and most quality was an important factor a sturdy bass dominate the second (The simplicity, Four Whispers for Archie’s Chair is a recently, Tapestry. Keith is also a sideman in behind the music; a concept that still Blacksmith), evoking briefly the flames small tribute or remembrance of that chair the Dedication Orchestra. He is co-director remains central in this transcription of the Blacksmith’s fire and thud of his and its owner. It consists of four gentle of the Dartington International Summer for the family of four saxophones. The hammer. The spacious firmament can refrains for the soprano saxophone over an School jazz course and holds fellowships at composer has written: “the timbral be felt in the slow solemn tread of the undulating accompaniment. Published by both Dartington College of Arts and the Royal quality of four clarinets together was third movement (The Starwatcher) whilst Oriana Publications. Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff. a factor I constantly kept in mind in The Swordsman, the tricky rhythmic during composition – the homogenous mellow wood sound in the low chalumeau About the Composer Eric Schwartz (b.1976) else this piece is about having a raucous register, the piercing nature of the high Graham Fitkin was born in Cornwall in 4 Chair Legs good time while dancing the night away. notes and the ability to move seamlessly 1963, studied at Nottingham University Enjoy. Composer’s note through the whole range. with Peter Nelson and Nigel Osborne and In New York City, one of my freelance gigs in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen. is that of a modern dance accompanist. 4 Chair Legs was written for and premiered A number of ideas stemmed from this given His work includes music for dance, film As such, I spend a lot of time improvising by the Lunar Saxophone Quartet and Helen – first I wished to explore arpeggio figures and digital media through to orchestral at the piano, and working with dancers. Mills (piano) at Wesley’s Chapel, London, in (something I had never done before) both and chamber music. A pianist himself, When the Lunar Saxophone Quartet asked February 2007. Published by Staunch Music. in a controlled ‘burbling’ kind of way much of Fitkin’s early music was composed me to compose this work, I stumbled upon and in a broad-brush fanfare sense. Out for keyboards and for groups such as Piano the idea of creating a very modern version About the Composer of this I began to use harmonic systems Circus and for the Graham Fitkin Group, of the historic dance suite. Each movement Eric Schwartz was born in New Jersey, based on fourths, thirds and modes in which he formed in 1996. During the same started off from the idea of a classic dance studied composition at Cleveland Institute quick succession or simultaneously so that period he was also Composer in Residence form: The Waltz, The Tango, The Tarantella, of Music and, later, at New York University for short stretches of the piece a harmonic with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and The Polka. From those starting points where he also taught. An important aspect instability might occur. Orchestra (1994–96). More recently he has I simply let my imagination run free, of his music is its ability to bring together composed Still Warm, for the Eden Project abstracting and reconceiving these dances a synthesis of archetypes and genres or, in Finally I wished to pit sudden bursts (2006), Sinew, for the Fibonacci Sequence in wholly new ways. In doing so, my mind the composer’s own words, “genre-bending of pent-up energy alongside carefully (2009) and a BBC commission, PK, for the naturally wandered to a favourite Huxley projects”, that might, typically bring constructed passages thereby BBC Proms (2010). His influences range quote from The Doors of Perception about together 80s glam rock and Schoenberg. highlighting the exorcising nature of the from Stravinsky and Webern through seeing old things in entirely new ways; He was appointed Resident Composer for music to which the title might refer”. to Keith Jarrett and Miles Davies to The hence the title. Anyhow, as with many of the Los Angeles based Tonoi contemporary Smiths and Pet Shop Boys. – www.fitkin.com my works, more important than anything music ensemble’s 2007-08 season and his debut CD, 24 Ways of Looking at a Piano, James Williamson (b. 1984) of the players in the way of stamina, About the Composer was named one of the top classical CDs of In Memoriam subtlety and the way the instruments can James Williamson was born in Selby, 2005 by All Music Guide. He has recently melt together and sometimes become one. North Yorkshire and his initial studies in taken a position at the University of North I wanted to create a piece for saxophone composition were pursued in his locality: Carolina School for the Arts, where he now quartet that endured a sound world that Overall, the techniques used were to first at the Leeds School of Music and later works full time with dancers. was quite different from other works that create a piece that is meditative and at the University of Huddersfield under www.myspace.com/ericjschwartz I have heard, such as works that flourish forms a kind of expressive staticism to aid Patrick Standford. Later studies were with melodies and bestow a platform for relief of a contemplative wilderness that undertaken with Philip Cashian at the the virtuosity of the instruments. Instead, one can endure with the loss of someone Royal Academy of Music, London. He also In Memoriam is a very slow piece and built very close to you. works as a trumpeter with the Powder Jazz upon the idea of a very gradual and subtle Trio. His interests and influences range unwinding of harmonies as it progresses. The piece was written in the memory of my from Miles Davies, Bill Evans and John I also wanted to experiment with using father, Leslie Williamson. Composer’s note Coltrane through to David Bowie, Dream overtones, as I knew they could be effective Evil, John Cage and J S Bach. within the environment I wanted to set In Memoriam was written for the Lunar www.myspace.com/jam_williamson up. The beginning and end of the piece Saxophone Quartet and premiered at demonstrates this timbral effect – I have The Warehouse, London, on 18 December written G (tenor) against Ab (alto), which 2007 where it won first prize in the LSQ creates a warm panorama of overtones New Music Award 2007. Published by that beat against each other. These Staunch Music. attributes perhaps explore the virtuosity Michael Nyman (b.1944) refers to the Place de la Concorde, the his student days at the Royal Academy of (arr. Joel Garthwaite) largest square in Paris situated between Music where he studied the seventeenth De L’hotel de la ville a la Concorde (from La the Tuileries and the Champs-Elysées. century baroque with the now legendary Traversée de Paris) In 1792, during the French revolution, it Thurston Dart. Nyman is on record was called Place de la Révolution and a as stating that the core of his mature Composed to mark the 200th anniversary guillotine was set up. In the two years that style emerged from playing Mozart’s of the French Revolution in 1789, De L’hotel followed 1119 people were beheaded there. “Catalogue” aria (Don Giovanni) on the de la ville a la Concorde (From City Hall to piano in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis which, the Concorde) forms part of La Traversée The original scoring was for the Michael “dictated the dynamic, articulation and de Paris (The Crossing of Paris), an album Nyman Band and the arrangement for texture of everything I’ve subsequently consisting of seventeen pieces. Each refers saxophone quartet and piano was made for done.” During the 1970s, Nyman was to a specific or generic location, historical the present CD by Joel Garthwaite. particularly associated with the English incident, or cultural development in Paris Experimental School and published his since the time of the Revolution, charting About the Composer now classic text, Experimental Music – the city’s rich and often violent history Michael Nyman is predominantly known Cage and Beyond (1974). He subsequently from 1789 to 1989. The work was composed for his film scores, many of which were formed the Michael Nyman Band with for an audio-visual exhibition of the same written during his collaboration with which he still tours as a pianist. name that took place at the Grande Arche the film-maker Peter Greenaway and www.michaelnyman.com de la Défense from July to December include The Draughtsman’s Contract and 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Drowning by Numbers. Much of his work French Revolution. De L’hotel de la ville a draws on sources taken from early music, la Concorde is the thirteenth section and an influence that can be traced back to Credits

Notes © Peter Reynolds ℗2010 The copyright in this recording is owned by Notes by composers are the copyright of the Lunar Saxophone Quartet named individuals. ©2010 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. Piano – Nicola Rose Recorded at The Malthouse Canterbury 9–11 Feb 2009 Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, by Roland Heap copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs Produced by Joel Garthwaite constitutes an infringement of copyright and will Mixed by Roland Heap at Sound Disposition render the infringer liable to an action by law. Mastered by Signum Records Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Graphic Design + Photography: www.laranjo.org Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be Illustration: www.karenlacroix.com reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd.

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