'the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place'

Lucy Armstrong: Same Same But Different - Movement 1

Lucy Armstrong: Same Same But Different - Movement 2

Lucy Armstrong: Same Same But Different - Movement 3

The North

Agust - Olafur Arnalds arr. D White

Live performance of Three Preludes by George Gershwin

Live at the BBC Proms - 30th August 2018

Three Preludes - George Gershwin - Live Performance

Unrelenting Universe (2018) was commissioned by the Borealis Saxophone Quartet for a premiere performance at St. John’s Smith Square located in Westminster, London.  The composition is influenced and inspired by the use of feng shui and astrology as applied to the birth date of BSQ member Gillian Blair and to events associated with famous “Johns” (the Church of St. John, John Henry, and John Coltrane). Two themes are derived from Gillian, (“Gilly’s Groove” and “Mercury Maze”) and five themes are based on "John". The “John” themes are: "John Henry" (American folk song); “The Birth of St. John” (uses the plainchant "Ut queant laxis" which is an eighth century Latin hymn written in honor of St. John); "The Bombing of St. John" (applies feng shui to the date that the church was bombed in WWII); and “John ‘Cool’ Trane” (music inspired by saxophonist John Coltrane). The title refers to the spirited energy displayed by these people and by the Church of St. John which was resurrected from ruins to become a beautiful performance venue. 
 
Zack Browning (b. 1953) is a composer whose music is described as “way-cool in attitude…speed-demon music” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and “propulsive, giddy, rocking… a rush of cyclic riffs and fractured meters” (The New York Times). The Irish Times proclaimed he is “bringing together the procedures of high musical art with the taste of popular culture”. His solo CD “Banjaxed” on Capstone Records has been called “the aural equivalent of the pinball machine.  Imagine sassy, brilliant bumpers with each slam of the ball sending a glitter of lights and mechanical twitters through your chest.” (American Record Guide). His recent solo CDs “Secret Pulse” and “Venus Notorious” are available on Innova Recordings.  Browning is an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois and director of the Salvatore Martirano Memorial Composition Award. (www.zackbrowning.com)

Unrelenting Universe - Zack Browning - Live Performance

Big Red by Andy Scott, arranged for Saxophone Quartet and CD by Mark White
Available from Astute Music

Big Red - Andy Scott

The Borealis Saxophone Quartet are an award winning ensemble based in Manchester and are all currently studying at or graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music.
Their debut recital took place at the Bridgewater Hall in December 2011 and they have since performed regularly around the UK. In Summer 2012 they gave a performance of Per Norgard's 'Dancers Around Jupiter' at the BBC proms festival, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. 2012 also saw them reach the finals of the prestigious RNCM Concerto Competition, which led to a performance of Graham Fitkin's 'Plan B' for saxophone quartet and string orchestra, as well as the premiere of their first commission; 'Borealis (into blue)' by Lucy Pankhurst. 
In 2013 they won the  inaugural Apollo Saxophone Quartet/RNCM Saxophone Ensemble prize which was sponsored by Vandoren and Selmer Saxophones, and the Trevor Wye Memorial Prize for Woodwind Chamber Music at the RNCM.  Following this success, they competed with other prize winning RNCM Ensembles in the Christopher Rowland Chamber Music Prize and were named 'RNCM Ensemble of the Year 2013'.
Future performances include recitals at King's Place and St John's Smith Square.
For more information see www.borealissaxophonequartet.com

Borealis SaxophoneQuartet

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