For the album Amulets, the NoXaS Saxophone Quartet has selected three works that show the quartet from very different sides.

Ørjan Matre’s masterful instrumentation in the work “Six Orphic Amulets” shows the saxophone’s flexibility. Often the four instruments create a backdrop for the singers, or they are woven into the vocals so that the distinction between singing and saxophone is blurred.

In Jon Øivind Ness’ “WRÆÞÞ”, the composer demonstrates the saxophone’s ability to play microtonal lines in an otherwise moody work. The mixture of humor and high complexity is a trademark of Ness, and it also applies to this work.

Karen Rehnqvist’s work “Ock av Törnen” has an almost timeless expression with large dynamic ranges in register and dynamics. The expression is skinless, real and dramatic. Matre and Ness were composed especially for the performers on the recording.

NoXaS is a Norwegian saxophone quartet that was established in 2007, and today consists of Lars Lien, Ida Kristine Zimmermann Olsen, Roger Andreas Holme and René Wiik. NoXaS works primarily within the field of contemporary music, and collaborates regularly with composers and other performers.

Nordic Voices is a professional vocal ensemble that was established in 1996 and the ensemble’s repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant to recent and modern classical music. The ensemble consists of the six singers Tone Elisabeth Braaten, Ingrid Hanken, Ebba Rydh, Per Kristian Amundrød, Frank Havrøy and Rolf Magne Asser .

Berit Norbakken belongs to the elite among our sopranos. She covers the entire field from Renaissance to contemporary music.

NoXaS Saxophone Quartet
Nordic Voices, Vocal Ensemble
Berit Norbakken, Soprano