Damask Vocal Quartet is making its first album: O Schöne Nacht! Katharine, Marine, Guy, and Drew, along with French pianist Flore Merlin, are finally releasing our debut recording on the Dutch label 7 Mountain Records.

WHO ARE WE?

Damask is four singers: American-Dutch soprano Katharine Dain, French mezzo Marine Fribourg, English tenor Guy Cutting, and Canadian baritone Drew Santini. We have become known for our particular beauty of sound and positive energy in performance: "The four voices were sublimely intertwined, each with their own character ... extreme control over sound and effects ... their musical language is exciting, happy, entertaining, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek towards tradition" (Lia de Vries).

WHAT'S ON THE CD?

The CD gathers favorite Romantic quartets and piano pieces themed around night, in all its mystery, splendor, and sensual possibility: Johannes Brahms's complete cycles Op. 31, 92, and 112 and quartets of two of his lesser-known contemporaries, Heinrich Herzogenberg and Gustav Jenner. It also contains the premiere recordings of a set of piano pieces by Theodor Kirchner, a friend of Brahms.

WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT THE CD?

These days, CDs are made for the love of recorded music and intimate listening at home--they're no longer a commercially sure venture, and making them is expensive! Your contribution will be a direct investment in an assured artistic statement and a gorgeous musical document that will exist forever, and will go straight toward one of the following post-production expenses:

-the invaluable work of the producer, engineer, and all-around mastermind of 7 Mountain Records, Frerik de Jong
-many hours of editing and mastering work
-cover artwork by Herco Dijk
-booklet by Maarten van der Meulen
-photography by Evelien van Rijn
-PR for the finished recording, to get as wide a distribution and recognition of our work as possible
-the pressing and physical creation of the CDs themselves

And we have already had to subsidize many large costs:

-the rental of the recording venue, a former farm in the east of the Netherlands
-the rental and transport of the 1868 Streicher piano (more about the piano below!) from its home in Belgium
-the piano technician who kept the instrument in perfect shape for the whole duration of the sessions

I'VE HEARD DAMASK IN CONCERT. WHAT MAKES THIS RECORDING SO SPECIAL?

This process has allowed us to refine and explore our music-making further than ever before. The music is lush, dramatic, contemplative, joyful, and full of longing, a perfect fit for our quartet's sound; when you hear the result, we think you'll hear an intimacy, a level of risk and drama and beauty that is unique to this recording. And you'll be able to listen forever.

We chose a very special piano to record on: an 1868 original J. B. Streicher. Brahms owned a Streicher and performed and composed for this instrument's transparency of sound and dramatic range of color. We feel very lucky to have found this instrument from the same time and maker, which brings us closer to Brahms's own sound world than we thought possible, and to have been granted special permission to use it--this piano has only been recorded once before by its owner.

SO, TO SUM UP....

As you can see, O Schöne Nacht is a massive project--one we waited to undertake until we were sure that the music and the moment were perfect. We can't wait for you to hear the album, but we need your help to get to the finish line! Please join us and be a part of our biggest labor of love yet, and you'll enjoy the results for years to come.

love,
Katharine, Marine, Guy, Drew, and Flore
www.damaskquartet.com
www.floremerlin.com
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