The Kurios Clarinet Quartet - founded in 2002 - appears to be an enthusiastic successor to the Dutch Clarinet Quartet, which was discontinued in 2014. For instance, the members of the Kurios took lessons from Jan Jansen, principal clarinetist of the disbanded quartet. The Kurios Clarinet Quartet also took over repertoire from the older ensemble. Take Jurriaan Andriessen's Clarinet Quartet, which
… can be heard here, which was once composed for the Netherlands Clarinet Quartet. However, the Kurios Quartet may credit this CD premiere to its blazon. Brother Louis Andriessen has already listened to this performance with great pleasure, according to a personal note in the booklet. The names of the other two composers - Henk Tromp and Frank den Herder - are less commonly known. However, that does not detract from the craftsmanship and the fun. Frank den Herders neoclassical Clarinet Quartet even fits very nicely with that of Jurriaan Andriessen. The booklet provides a handy overview of the origins of the clarinet quartet genre, from the very first clarinet quartet by James Waterson (1834-1893) up to and including the Dutch contributions of Andriessen, Keuris, and De Leeuw. (HJ)more
