Creating a “Catalyst” for music old and new
The Catalyst Quartet makes its debut with the Goldberg Variations of Bach. The variations, which began as a harpsichord piece, have been transcribed for innumerable instruments in recent years (accordion, anyone?), as well as two fine versions for string trio. This version is the first for quartet, and the arrangement was done not by an individual outside the group, but was a collaborative process by Catalyst’s four members. Two of them, violinist Karla Donehew-Perez, and cellist Karlos Rodriguez, joined me in conversation about Bach, his gorgeous set of variations, Glenn Gould’s influence – and his string quartet – and what it means to be a creative artist in classical music in this day and age. Along the way, you’ll hear music by Bach and Gould, in this recording that shows that it truly takes four individuals to create a cohesive voice.
Catalyst Quartet: Bach/Gould Project
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