The Vienna “Zeitung” hailed the quartet as the “Uncrowned Kings of the Saxophone” and a critic from “Die Welt” claimed, “If there were an Olympic discipline for virtuoso wind playing, the Raschèr Quartet would definitely receive a gold medal.”

The ensemble carries on a tradition established in the 1930’s by the pioneer of the classical saxophone and founding member of the quartet Sigurd Raschèr, who animated many composers to write music especially for him. In a similar fashion, the quartet has inspired over 300 composers to dedicate music to them, including, Berio, Bergman, Bialas, Dean, Denhoff, Donatoni, Firsowa, Franke, Glass, Gubaidulina, Halffter, Haubenstock-Ramati, Kagel, Kaipainen, Kancheli, Keuris, de Leeuw, Maros, Moe, Nilsson, Nordgren, Nørgard, Rosenblum, Raskatov, Sandström, Stucky, Terzakis, Tüür, rbanner, Wuorinen, Xenakis, Chen Yi und Zechlin.

All of these composers have shared an enthusiasm for the four musicians’ unique homogeneous tone quality, virtuosity and dynamic interpretation of new and old music. Regarding their interpretation of Bach, the well-known German musicologist Ulrich Dibelius wrote, “When the Raschèr Quartet plays Bach, the music takes on a seraphic aura — as if the organ and the string quartet had come together.”

Numerous composers have been fascinated with the combination of the Raschèrs and orchestra, which has resulted in more than 25 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, Saint Cecilia National Academy Orchestra Rome, Gulbenkian Orchestra Lisbon, Malaysian National Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Pilharmonique Strasbourg, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra of the Hague, Berlin Sinfonie Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonisches Orchester Kiel, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Camerata Bern, Vienna Symphony, BBC London Symphony, SWR Baden-Baden, MDR Orchestra Leipzig, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Stuttgart, Radio-Sinfonie Orchestra Cologne, I Fiamminghi and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle.

In addition to the Raschèr Quartet’s numerous solo recitals and collaborations with the world’s leading orchestras, the Quartet has performed with many various instrumental and vocal combinations, including Christain Lindberg, The Kroumata Percussion Ensemble, The London Voices, The West German Radio Choir, The Rias Chamber Choir, The Finnish Radio Choir, The Belgian Radio Choir, The Icelandic National Cathedral Choir, and the Netherlands Chamber Choir. Numerous composers such as Luciano Berio, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Bernd Franke, Stefan Thomas, Giya Kancheli, Maricio Kagel and Sofia Gubaibulina have been inspired to contribute works for the Raschèrs in these combinations.

The Raschèr Quartet is a musical democracy. Therefore, in contrast to many other chamber ensembles, the quartet has no leader.

 

Members:
Cristine Rall; Elliot Riley; Bruce Weinberger; Kenneth Coon. 

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

The sense of tone, instrumental mastery and ensemble playing of these four musicians are so perfectly developed that one can speak of them only with complete admiration.

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 virtuoso Raschèr Quartet and the resulting sonorities are fascinating. (Carnegie Hall performance)

The Raschèr Quartet exemplifies Cabrillos (festival) annual discovery trips. They show saxophone gymnastics sax adherents never dreamed about: lightening fast phrases, extremes of range and closely cued articulation – most arresting of all, the four are as tightly unified as a string quartet.

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;
Orange Mountain Music OMM-0011 Philip Glass: SELECTIONS FROM PASSAGES

Works for the Raschèr Quartet and 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;
Harmonia Mundi 907391 Erkki-Sven Tüür, Estonian Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier, Cond.