Album Notes

New York’s intrepid Brooklyn Rider is renowned for illuminating music in new ways through its fervently adventurous repertoire and raw and edgy performance style.
In anticipation of two major-label releases later this year, this genre-bending, blissfully innovative string quartet has just released a new album - "PASSPORT". Self-produced by the group, "Passport" is released on "In a Circle Records", an independent label started by one of the quartet's violinists, Johnny Gandelsman. The album is a calling card of sorts, representing the various musical genres and traditions in Brooklyn Rider's diverse repertoire.

"Passport" begins with a set of Armenian Folk Songs that were collected by one of the most revered figures in Armenian cultural history, Komitas Vardapet. An ethnomusicologist and an Orthodox priest, Komitas is largely responsible for preserving Armenian folk music. The beautiful arrangements for string quartet were made by Sergey Aslamazian. Brooklesca was written by quartet's own, violinist Colin Jacobsen. The piece is inspired by Brooklyn Rider's experiences as members of the Silk Road Ensemble, which have included extensive exploration and performing of Gypsy and Persian music. La Muerte Chiquita is a song made famous by a Mexican rock group, Cafe Tacuba . Here is a version for string quartet in a gorgeous arrangement by Osvaldo Golijov. Plume & Crosstown were written by Ljova- a great young composer/arranger, who has recently collaborated with Osvaldo Golijov on the score for Francis Ford Coppola's latest film, "Youth without Youth". These are soulful, bluesy tunes that evoke cinematic moments in the style of Pedro Almodovar.

"Passport" is a true album of a 21st Century string quartet- unique and adventurous journey that takes the listener far and beyond the standard chamber music repertoire.


Later this year, Brooklyn Rider will release two major-label albums:

1. Silent City (WORLD VILLAGE • SEPTEMBER 9, 2008) is a result of a close friendship between Brooklyn Rider and Iranian kamancheh (spike fiddle) virtuoso and composer KAYHAN KALHOR. Reinterpreting classical and folkloric sources in a freewheeling, impassioned manner, Brooklyn Rider and Kalhor can be heard communicating on a fresh and thrilling wavelength. All four works on this recording were composed by the participants.


2. Brooklyn Rider's interpretation of the complete quartets of Philip Glass (including the premiere recording of Quartet No.6) will be released on ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC, the composer’s own label, later this year.

Read Greg Cahill's wonderful review of "Passport" and "Silent City"in Strings Magazine here: http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=23971


Brooklyn Rider is named for the members’ beloved home borough and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) - an interdisciplinary, Munich-based German expressionist movement that flourished during the early twentieth century.
The quartet has been challenging and delighting audiences ever since its inception by dividing its time between exploring classic repertoire, the creation of new works, and fervently adventurous intercultural explorations. The ensemble has performed with major orchestras and graced diverse venues and music festivals around the world as well as being unceasingly active as educators. Aside from their individual affiliations with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project,
Brooklyn Rider has worked with composers Chen Yi, Osvaldo Golijov, Dimitry Yanov-Yanovsky, Shirish Korde and Kayhan Kalhor as well as diverse figures like violinist Jenny Scheinman, Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man, singer songwriter Christina Courtin and visual artist Kevork Mourad. Brooklyn Rider has been profiled on WNYC’s Soundcheck, as well as Minnesota Public Radio and in November 2007, the group helped curate a week-long residency at National Public Radio’s Performance Today.