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Please note: the information below is also available in Dutch.

Season 12/13 and 13/14

Amstel Tracks NOW!

An Amstel Quartet Greatest Hits Program! The quartet plays the favorite tunes of themselves and their audience.

After years of touring throughout the United States, Asia and Europe their biggest successes are bundled in Amstel Tracks NOW!.

With arrangements that have been made by or for the members of the quartet by Mozart , Bach, Barber, Ravel and many others.

Amstel Tracks NOW! CD

Available on Challenge Records: click here

Promo video

Less is more

Charms of minimal music

What started out as an American avant-garde movement in the late sixties, has established itself as one of the most popular contemporary music styles whose influences reach far beyond its origins: Minimal Music has won its place on numerous movie soundtracks, in TV jingles, modern dance performances and it has also found its way into the pop, rock, techno and house music scenes. Known for its meticulous sense of rhythm and unrivalled ear for collective sound, the Amstel Quartet has earned the highest praise for its Philip Glass and Michael Nyman recordings, and has inspired American composer Michael Torke and Dutch composers Renske Vrolijk and Gerard Beljon to compose works for them. Terry Riley, one of the pioneers of Minimal Music, personally authorized the quartet’s arrangements of his music.

High-floating, hypnotizing, meditative ... allow yourself to be carried away on this musical trip ... and have a safe landing!

• Michael Nyman (1944) - Three movements from String Quartet No. 2 (1988/2008)
• Renske Vrolijk (1965) - Lachrymae* (2010)
• Michael Torke (1961) - June, May* (1995/2010)

-intermission-

• Philip Glass (1937) - Mishima (1985) (arr. AQ)
• Gerard Beljon (1952) - Greetingz* (2011)
• Terry Riley (1935) - Good Medicine (1985/2009) (arr. Apswoude)

*) written for the Amstel Quartet

Sax avec Elan!

Philippe Elan - a legendary name for all those who love the French Chanson!

He started his career at very young age as a saxophonist with the local wind band of his native village in Southern France, but soon it became clear that singing was his real passion. Since then, Philippe has always had a love-hate relationship with the saxophone. Is his collaboration with the Amstel Quartet really such a coincidence? Or a wink to his past? Or a reflection of his past?

Chansons by Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Barbara, Jean Ferrat, Edith Piaf, Léo Ferré, Juliette Gréco ... amongst others.

Louis Ferré: Avec le temps

Jacques Brel: Quand on a que l’amour

Website Philippe Elan: www.philippe-elan.com

Amstel Raga

with Niti Ranjan Biswas, tabla

The two worlds of the virtuoso tabla player Niti Ranjan Biswas and the Amstel Quartet first came together in the production of LAAD LOS by theatre company the Dogtroep. The combination of the two very different cultures had an addictive effect: the five musicians decided to prolong the collaboration.

Contemporary composers took their inspiration from the classical Indian music and wrote compositions for the programme. Even though Western and Indian music have been combined successfully in the past, the combination of a saxophone quartet and tablas is completely new. As the Indian and Western cultures show great contradictions, the starting point will always be the essence of the music itself. Creativity is what the Amstel Raga programme is all about. Not world music, not classical music; Amstel Raga!

• Ian Wilson - Heaven lay close
• Niti Ranjan Biswas - Improvisation on a 16th century piece
• Oene van Geel - Karmatikka

-intermission-

• Kadri Gopalnath - Hidden Secrets (arr. Jak)
• Sylvia Maessen - Todi, where did you go?
• Marion von Tilzer - Wheel of Fortune
• Martin Fondse -Tribute to Indian Cinema

(programme subject to change and by agreement)

Promo video

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