The French saxophone ensemble Quatuor Machaut combines the art of early polyphonic music and of improvised music in a unique approach. From September 23rd to October 6th the quartet will perform twelve concerts in Finland, Estonia and Latvia.
Quentin Biardeau and the Quatuor Machaut offer a re-visit as well as a set of ‘extensions’ to Guillaume de Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame (Mass of Our Lady), the masterpiece and apotheosis of 14th century polyphonic music. The quartet has been focusing its work on the exploration of timbres, textures, tones and dynamics, as well as sensations and feelings induced by this musical work that leaves considerable room for freedom and improvisation within a rich harmonic framework to all four musicians. The result, at the intersection of the sacred and spectral music, offers the listener a genuinely mystical experience.
Formed in 2011 by Quentin Biardeau with Simon Couratier, Francis Lecointe and Gabriel Lemaire, the Quatuor Machaut recorded its first album in 2015 at the Abbey of Noirlac, produced and released by Ayler Records. The Quatuor Machaut is based in Orléans and member of the Tricollectif, one of the most active collective of musicians on the French jazz scene. The Quatuor Machaut has been one of the laureates of the Jazz Migration tour program of 2017, a promotion program for emerging creative jazz musicians carried on by the AJC (Association Jazzé Croisé).
Quatuor Machaut
Quentin Biardeau tenor saxophone
Simon Couratier baritone saxophones
Francis Lecointe alto and baritone saxophones
Gabriel Lemaire alto and baritone saxophones
www.ayler.com/quatuor-machaut.html
ayler-records.bandcamp.com/album/quatuor-machaut
Baltic Tour program September-October 2018
FINLAND / kiertuetiedote suomeksi
23/09 Mänttä, Serlachius-museo Gösta – kivijärvisali
25/09 Helsinki, Laulumiehet /jaZZanti
26/09 Turku, Turun seudun musiikkiopisto
27/09 Pori, Satakunnan museo / Validi Karkia -klubi
28/09 Oulu, Cathedral / Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu
29/09 Joensuu, Taidekeskus Ahjo
ESTONIA / in partnership with Uus Kontsert and the French Institute of Estonia
01/10 Jõgeva, Cultural Centre
02/10 Viljandi, Baptist Church
03/10 Paide, Cultural Centre
LATVIA / in partnership with the French Institute of Latvia
04/10 Liepaja, Promenade / Via Cultura
05/10 Madona, House of Culture
06/10 Luznava Manor
Tour production: Tricollectif www.tricollectif.fr/quatuor-machaut
Tour booking and tour managing: Vapaat äänet
Tour support: Adami, AJC, Institut Français, Sacem, Spedidam
Jazz Migration