The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet
Summer Workshop

July 6-10, 2004
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, West Virginia

Biography

Christine Rall, Soprano
Elliot Riley, Alto
Bruce Weinberger, Tenor
Kenneth Coon, Baritone

Since it's formation in 1969, the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet has appeared regularly at the major concert halls in Europe and the U.S. including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center New York, Kennedy Center Washington D.C., Opera Bastille Paris, Royal Festival Hall London, Philharmonie Cologne, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Schauspielhaus Berlin, Musikverein Vienna, and Tonhalle Zürich.

The quartet has inspired over 250 composers to dedicate music to them, including, Berio, Bergman, Bialis, Denhoff, Donatoni, Firsowa, Glass, Gubaidulina, Halffter, Haubenstock-Ramati, Kaipainen, Keuris, de Leeuw, Nordgren, Nørgard, Maros, Raxach, Raskatov, Sandström, von Schweinitz, Stucky, Terzakis, Urbanner, Wuorinen, Xenakis and Zechlin.

Numerous composers have been fascinated with the combination of the Raschèrs 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, Pilharmonique 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.


Recordings

Recitals:
Cala CD 77003 Bach, Glazounov, Reich, etc.; Caprice 21435 Xenakis, Bergman, etc.; BIS-CD 953 Wuorinen, Corbett, Starer, Adler, Florio, Peterson;: BIS-CD 1153 Hindemith, Penderecki, Halffter, Nørgard, Xenakis; BIS-NL-CD 5023 The Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra

Concerti for the Raschèr's 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 Luciano Berio, London Sinfonietta Voices, Seymon Bychkov, Con.; BIS-CD 710 Gubaidulina, Kroumata Percussion Ensemble; Caprice 21441 Gubaidulina, Nilsson, Kox, Kroumata Percussion Ensemble

Reviews

The Raschèr Quartet, the La Salle Quartet of the woodwind world, are the uncrowned kings of the saxophone in classical music.
Wiener Zeitung, Vienna

If there were an Olympic division for wind players, then the Raschèr Quartet from the USA would definitely receive a gold medal.
Die Welt, Hamburg

The sound of the fantastic Raschèr Quartet was in itself a sensation. The purity of sound of this quartet gave almost physical pleasure to the listeners.
Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki

Thanks to the technical perfection and musicality of the Raschèr Quartet, the Bach transcriptions were such a treat for the ear that any doubts about such adaptions disappeared. The ensemble filled the hall with a sound which is reminiscent of an organ in a Gothic cathedral. (Bach in the Gewandhaus)
Leipzig Union, Leipzig

The noble tone quality of the Raschèrs has inspired many composers. They create new effects and produce sounds that are unique. They play pieces where composers allow their fantasy free rein, secure in the knowledge that anything is possible with the Raschèrs. And they are correct. A better performance is unimaginable.
Politiken, Copenhagen

The Saxophone Wonder! ... the Raschèr Quartet. This unbelievably perfect quartet showed us what excellent chamber music is with its fine nuances and intelligent music making.
Manifesto, Rome

The richly varied character of their four voices has been inspiring new compostitions left, right and centre ... an extraordinarily powerful exploitation of the saxophone’s sheer vibrancy at high pitch, of its surprising agility in the knottiest counterpoint, and of its vivid powers of declamation.
The Times, London

The virtuoso Raschèr Quartet and the resulting sonorities are fascinating. (Carnegie Hall performance)
The Daily News, New York

The Workshop

Come to beautiful Buckhannon, West Virginia the home of West Virginia Wesleyan College, and enjoy 5 days of study with the world renowned Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.  This workshop will offer many learning and performance opportunities for saxophonists who want to get into serious saxophone literature.

West Virginia Wesleyan College

The workshop will include master classes and individual lessons given by each quartet member, and feature a performance by the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.  Participants of the workshop will have the opportunity to perform in a solo recital, and also perform with a  large saxophone ensemble.

2001 Rascher Saxophone Quartet workshop at SUNY Fredonia

Cost:

Room        $60  (Dormatory rooms based on double occupancy.  Singles available for an additional charge of $40)
Meals       $100 (3 meals daily)
Tuition     $300
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Total      $460

(There will be a CD recording of the final concert made available for purchase for an additional $10 which can be payed with the tuition, or at the time of registration)

Tentative Schedule:

Download an application form (Application and non-refundable deposit due by May 15, 2004), Balance will be due on or before the beginning of the workshop, July 6, 2004.

More information contact:    

Prof. David Wright
PO Box 91
West Virginia Wesleyan College
59 College Avenue
Buckhannon, WV   26201

Tel. (304) 473-8611
Email:  wright@wvwc.edu


Where is West Virginia Wesleyan College?  Get Directions.

Want to FLY in?  The closest airport to Buckhannon is Benedum Airport in Clarksburg, WV which is serviced by US Airways.  Other choices would be (in order of proximity)  Morgantown, WV, Charleston, WV, and Pittsburgh, PA.  We can arrange to pick you up at any of these airports.  Please contact David Wright directly if you want more information.