The New Zealand Guitar Quartet makes its debut on Rattle with a recording of some of the group’s favourite music.
Hailed as a national music treasure (Christchurch Arts Festival, 2014), NZ Guitar Quartet has captivated audiences with their polished ensemble skills and diverse programming. Demonstrating a versatility drawn from a range of classical, jazz, and world music, NZGQ pushes the boundaries of the traditional guitar quartet by commissioning works from award-winning composers. This tradition continues with their latest CD, The Passing of a Black Star, which features world-premiere recordings of works written especially for the group.
The album features a colourful and highly appealing range of compositional styles and moods, from arrangements of traditional works such as Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3 and Spanish Rhapsody Op.70 by Isaac Albeniz, to contemporary works by Craig Utting (Onslow Suite, 1993), Bruce Paine (Aotearoa Suite, 2016), and the title track, The Passing of a Black Star by Marian Budos.
As soloists in their own right, NZGQ members have garnered acclaim on concert stages around the world and in a multitude of international guitar competitions. Collectively they combine their skills to create an engaging ensemble noted for its fine performances of a diverse repertoire from the renaissance to the 21st century. They have been frequently acclaimed for their technical brilliance, emotional depth, and capacity to deliver concerts rich in “sublime musical quality”.
credits
released August 21, 2017
Performed by the NZ Guitar Quartet:
Owen Moriaty
Jane Curry
John Couch
Christopher Hill
Produced by NZ Guitar Quartet
Engineered by Steve Garden
Design by UnkleFranc
Printing by Studio Q
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