Fresh Ink Duo Entre-Nous

• Yotam Haber (b. 1976): Purity Guaranteed
• 1 Purity Guaranteed: I. Skeleton Time 01:33
• 2 Purity Guaranteed: II. Flesh Time 02:05
• 3 Purity Guaranteed: III. Skin Time 02:17
• Yuanyuan (Kay) He:
• 4 Foam & Sun 08:37
• Max Grafe (b. 1988): Anemoi Dances:
• 5 Anemoi Dances: I. Boreas 02:34
• 6 Anemoi Dances: II. Zephyrus 01:23
• 7 Anemoi Dances: III. Notus 00:59
• 8 Anemoi Dances: IV. Eurus 03:22
• Robert Lemay:
• 9 Double Fault 04:05
• Ron Amchin: Toons:
• 10 Toons: I. The Road Runner's Dash 01:34
• 11 Toons: II. The Bassinet 02:43
• 12 Toons: III. Vamoose! 03:40
• María Eugenia Luc (b. 1958):
• 13 Air Mirrors 10:04
• Yunfei Li (b. 1979):
• 14 Circling 04:31
• David Biedenbender (b. 1984): between us:
• 15 between us: I. What is? 02:05
• 16 between us: II. entre nous 07:22
• 17 between us: III. Metaxy 03:09
• Total Runtime 01:02:03

Info for Fresh Ink

Fresh Ink is a fitting title for this album in many ways. Firstly, the works are relatively new - the earliest piece dates from 2012 and the most recent was completed in March 2021, shortly before this album’s release. Furthermore, all but one piece was written specifically for Duo Entre-Nous (D2), and we believe each of these pieces is quite fresh in its own invigorating, imaginative, and renewing way. Lastly, the compositional process of these works was under consideration up until hours before their premiere, imbuing them with this sense of continual renewal. This type of dynamism is in direct contrast to the classical commissioning route where the work is delivered, the performer plays the piece (maybe just once or twice), and then it is forever forgotten to time.

The music on this album is as diverse as the composers’ backgrounds, styles, and harmonic languages. The virtuosity and tonal warmth of Haber is set against the playful- ness and nervous energetics of Amchin. Kay He’s pieces explores a gorgeous landscape of color and textures in her reference to Chinese mythology, while Max Grafe’s pieces utilizes the very technical essence of a wind duo - air - as a musical narrative tool to describe Greek mythological figures. Li has devised a clever and playful repetitive sequence in her work, whereas Luc throws sequence on its head and develops mirrored musical gestures that end up shattering each other until all that is left is a deeply haunting melody. Lemay’s work presents a short landscape using the idea of the duo as an engine for articulated and decisive interplay. And finally, Biedenbender writes a quaint and fitting ode, in this duo’s namesake: between us (entre-nous), commenting on the different ways in which the sentiment ‘between us’ can be manifested - from the joyous to the most pained expressions of familial opposition.

Duo Entre-Nous:
Jackie Glazier, clarinet
Don-Paul Kahl, saxophone

Duo Entre-Nous
is a clarinet and saxophone ensemble dedicated to the evolution and continued progression of new music. Formed in 2014 by Jackie Glazier and Don-Paul Kahl, the duo particularly focuses on the performance and commission of a new repertoire for this combination. Thus far the duo has commissioned composers from America, Australia, China, France, and Argentina, garnering new pieces in a variety of different styles. In particular, the duo supports the commissioning of composers from underrepresented groups, seeking to aid the creation and promotion of their works. ​

The duo can be heard on Gregory Wanamaker’s composer portrait album, “Light and Shadows, Waves and Time,” which was released on Navona Records in 2018. They premiered Scott McAllister’s “Concerto Americana” for clarinet, saxophone, and wind ensemble in 2016 with the University of Florida Wind Symphony, David Waybright conducting. Other notable performances include the World Saxophone Congress in Croatia (2018) and International Clarinet Association Conference in Belgium (2018).

Devoted to music education, the duo is active in teaching positions in the United States and Europe. Additionally, they have given many masterclasses, performances, and lectures at universities and conservatories throughout the US and Europe. Recognized both nationally and internationally, the duo’s mission is to bring excellence in performance and practice to all avenues of their work. Individually, the two members have won major international competitions for clarinet and saxophone, respectively. A long-term goal of the ensemble is to advocate for the unique sounds and artistic merits of the saxophone/clarinet duo and explore its fascinating possibilities.

Duo Entre-Nous is a Vandoren France endorsed artist ensemble, and they proudly perform exclusively on Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds.

This album contains no booklet.