Walter Boudreau - Chaleurs
Quasar
Independent (quasar4sax.bandcamp.com/album/chaleurs)
Rupture
Quatuor Nelligan
Centrediscs CMCCD 32823 (cmccanada.org/shop/cmccd-32823)
The Quebec hills are alive with the sounds of saxophone quartets: Quasar and Nelligan are both based in that province and both have new and exciting releases.
Quasar was founded in 1994 and has performed instrumental music, employed improvisation and used electronics. They perform as an acoustic quartet, but have also “plugged-in,” have been accompanied by an orchestra and have commissioned many pieces while continuously working for new music experimentation. Walter Boudreau’s Chaleurs was originally written in 1985 (predating the formation of Quasar by nine years) and was somehow forgotten until rediscovered in the Concordia University archives in 2019! This piece was originally “inspired by Paul-André Fortier’s choreography and his dancers’ work.” Boudreau revised Chaleurs for the tenth edition of Festival MNM in 2021 and Quasar premiered this new version at Salle Pierre-Mercure. It is a long, meditative piece of 50 minutes, and travels though many moods from quiet, sinuous and overlapping lines, to sections with playful interactions and onto more tentative and exploratory nuances.
Quatuor Nelligan was also founded in 1994 (apparently a banner year for sax quartets) and has been committed to championing both classical and contemporary repertoire. Rupture showcases the work of four Quebec composers and their different takes on quartet repertoire. Yoel Diaz Avila’s Concerto en 6 préludes contains several exciting sections which showcase lively ensemble playing. This piece is reminiscent of much standard saxophone quartet repertoire but with modern tonalities and sharp rhythmic departures. Alexandre David’s Essences begins with a quiet blending of the instruments and then opens up with individual flourishes and edgy statements before working back to a softer and thoughtful ending. Victor Herbiet’s Danse des Dragons begins slowly with intertwining melodies and then adds a percussive section with much pad clicking which appears to wake up the dragons as a vibrant dance section emerges containing Celtic influences. Rupture ends with Robert Lemay’s Verticales, the longest and most experimental piece which includes abrupt rhythms, subtle multiphonics, squeaks and quick dynamic shifts. This is my favourite piece on the album because it contains so many changes and surprises.
