Modern String Quartet


Biography Modern String Quartet

Modern String Quartet

Modern String Quartet
Since 1983 the Modern String Quartet has belonged to the most influential ensembles of the European cross-over scene. As artists between classic, avantgarde and jazz the 4 musicians have shown again and again the huge variety of the possibilities of contemporary music, obviously going into the music thoroughly for the very moment. Obviously – because also for Joerg Widmoser (violin), Winfried Zrenner (violin), Andreas Hoericht (viola) und Thomas Wollenweber (cello) applies: after the game is before the game.

In more than 2.500 concerts, on 20 albums so far and last not least in the context of countless exciting cooperations with artists like Konstantin Wecker, Tony Williams, Matt Glaser, Wolfgang Dauner, Charlie Mariano, Klaus Doldinger, Joe Haider, Mercedes Sosa or Joan Baez the many times awarded quartet has shown its extraordinary championship. Whether in Europe, North America, Africa or Asia – with the tremendous energy that is released by their music, the virtuous gang of four from Munich/ Germany continuously fascinates listeners all over the world.

According to the motto: „We perform everything that we did not learn from our teachers“ the members of the Modern String Quartet circle the secret core of their art and venture into spheres unheard of so far. Early on they had already developed a distinctive way of ensemble playing, and on this basis worked out a diverse repertoire. The art of free improvisation and the respectful handling of notated compositions show the quartet the way into the unknown and fascinating territories of sound.

An unequivocal dogmatic allocation of the ensemble to the field of modern classical music or the world of jazz is definitely not possible: as a string quartet, Joerg Widmoser, Winfried Zrenner, Andreas Hoericht und Thomas Wollenweber relate on the one hand to the high quality and tradition of classical chamber music, but on the other hand they belong as a jazz group to Duke Ellington’s description of contemporary music: „Music at the right spot, the right time, with the right people“.

The Modern String Quartet fulfills this task with a broad repertoire consisting of numerous original works alongside works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Igor Stravinsky, as well as pieces by Philip Glass and Steve Reich. In addition, the ensemble plays songs by George Gershwin, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Sidney Bechet, Miles Davis, to name only a few.

Against this background it becomes clear: for the Modern String Quartet „crossover“ is not only a word. Its all about creative crossing of borders, artistic movement and intellectual agility. The four strings celebrate an innovative development of chamber music concepts on the grounds of tradition in a never-ending work in progress.

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