Launch Pad CD Project

THE BANFF CENTRE

The Penderecki String Quartet is set to record a disc of Canadian works recently composed for and premiered by the Penderecki Quartet. The works involved are all composed by accomplished Canadian composers and have been performed by the Penderecki Quartet across Canada, USA, China, Spain, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, and Lithuania.

Proposed works:

1. Alice Ping-Yee Ho (Toronto)

String Quartet No.2 (2003). Commissioned by the Penderecki String Quartet with funds from the Laidlaw Foundation. Premiered at the Open Ears Festival in Kitchener, May 2003. Subsequent performances: China (Hong Kong Academy, Guizhou, Jinan, Zunyi, Shijiazhueng, Nanjing, Luizhou, Guiyang, Shanghai Festival); USA (Atlanta: Chaddick Arts Centre)

2. Piotr Grella-Mozejko (Edmonton)

String Quartet No.2, Secret Garden(music for Agnieszka Holland) (2003). Commissioned by the Penderecki String Quartet with funds from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Premiered at Edmonton Composers Society, University of Alberta, October 2003. Subsequent performances: Russia (St. Petersburg: State Museum of Music, Sheremetyev Palace); Lithuania (Kaunas: Is Arti Festival), Italy (Turin: Rive-Gauche Concerti), New York City (Symphony Space)

3. Daniel Janke (Whitehorse)

String Quartet No.1 (2005). Commissioned by the Penderecki String Quartet with funds from the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered in Dawson City, Yukon, February 2005. Subsequent performances: Whitehorse Concerts; Kitchener, Open Ears Festival.

4. Laurie Radford (Edmonton - London, UK)

Everything We See In The Sky, for string quartet and digital signal processing (2005). Commissioned by the Penderecki String Quartet with funds from the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered at EinsteinFest (Perimeter Institute, Waterloo), October 2005. Subsequent contracted performances: USA (Los Angeles: Bing Theatre); Spain (Granada: Empresa Publica de Gestion de Programas Culturales, Seville: EPGPC); Czech Republic (Prague Premieres). Planned upcoming performances: Toronto (Music Gallery), Edmonton (Composers Society)

5. Jeff Ryan (Vancouver)

Sonata distorta for string quartet (2006). Commissioned by the Penderecki String Quartet with funds from Music Toronto. Premiered at the Jane Mallet Theatre for Music Toronto in March 2006. Subsequent contracted performances: USA (Bloomington (Indiana), Italy (Terra di Sienne Festival) Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Banff, Niagara, Windsor, St John's (Nfld).

Working with composers:

The Penderecki String Quartet has worked with all of the above listed composers in their final editing stages. All the composers have witnessed the final rehearsals, the premieres, and in some cases the subsequent performances of their work. This direct contact the Penderecki Quartet has had with these composers in the launching of these new quartets is an important responsibility. It has been the PSQ's goal to ensure the scores are clear for future generations of performers, and it is our desire to not over-interpret, but commit to finding the means to express the ideals of the composers.

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