A day in London with the Ferio Sax Quartet

Some time ago Shevaughan Beere, baritone saxophonist with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, approached me: on their first album they would like to include some of my Ciudades. London is not too far away, so we decided to meet somewhere before the recording sessions.
On July 27 I flew over to London to find the Quartet in a lovely rehearsing hall in one of the fanciest quarters of London, situated at ‘The Overseas League’. The Quartet won the Overseas League’s Competition in 2015 and part of the prize was a rehearsing place in the heart of London.
We spent a wonderful couple of hours working on Tokyo, Köln, Sarajevo and Addis. First time I heard Köln, very happy with their interpretation and how it comes out. Nice coincidence: the Spanish member of the Quartet, José Manuel Bañuls, is currently living and studying in Köln.
Great performers, I just heard from Shevaughan that the recordings went really well, everything has been edited and is ready for the final mastering. Check the Ferio site for more info.
IMG_3116
left to right: Ellie Mcmurray, Huw Wiggin, Lago, Shevaughan Beere, José Manuel Bañuls

Similar Posts

  • Duo Lorenci-Mlacnik

    It’s been quite a time that I posted something, to busy composing (for Mirasol Duo, Studenten Cantorij Utrecht – Ties Mellema and Arno Piters) and performing (with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble). More on the new compositions soon. This post about a wonderful sax-percussion duo from Slovenia, Janina Lorenci and Lola Mlacnik, both studying at the…

  • Wordsworth Poems World Premiere

    Just a block away from London’s Houses of Parliament stands St. John’s Smith Square, a church with quite a history. Built in 1710 it burnt down in 1742, was rebuilt and hit by lightning in 1815, rose from the ashes again and offered room in the interbellum to a boy’s choir with Benjamin Britten one…

  • Rimas de Bécquer

    Happy to tell you that I sent out my ‘Rimas de Bécquer’, (five rhymes by the romantic Andalusian poet Gustavo Bécquer (1836-1870)) to Fokko Oldenhuis, conductor of the Utrechtse Studenten Cantorij. Five songs for choir (SATB + soloists SATBar) and soprano saxophone, in all some 16 minutes of music. Thus fulfilling one of the promises…

  • New commission for clarinet solo

    When in Porto last week I got a phone call from clarinettist Harmen de Boer. He asked me if I would be interested writing a solo piece for clarinet for the upcoming https://www.facebook.com/klarinetfestival in the Amsterdam Muziekgebouw aan het IJ as he is co-hosting this huge festival. Did not take me too long to answer…

  • Vier Letzte Lieder

    The Netherlands Wind Ensemble has played a major role in my life for over 30 years. I have been extremely lucky performing with this splendid group and then also being invited to arrange for the ensemble. I owe my performing colleagues, staff members, production crew and directors Bart Schneemann and Niek Wijns so much… Now…