PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 3, 2024

Ask any music fan who may not have a particular interest in the classical idiom to name a Norwegian composer, and chances are the most frequent response (if one is even offered) is probably invariably going to be Edvard Grieg, especially since Grieg was so brilliantly memorialized in the film classic Song of Norway (consider that an ill timed April Fools joke). The funny thing is (other than Song of Norway, that is) you might very well get the exact same response from those who do appreciate classical music, since for whatever reason those Norwegians who followed in Grieg's footsteps may not have achieved the international fame that Grieg did. But as any number of really interesting and always spectacularly well recorded efforts from Norway based label 2L have made clear, Norwegian music continues to thrive and impress courtesy of any number of more contemporary composers and/or groups. While I actually mentioned Grieg (and Song of Norway) in my Henning Sommerro: Borders Blu-ray review, I also referenced another "Edvard", namely Edgard Varèse, since Sommerro's music often wafts from 19th century Romanticism to 20th century stridency, and in fact Edgard Varèse may have also been an influence for a second 2L release that was covered in my Lasse Thoresen: Lyden av Arktis. While these are always broad stroke generalizations made in fitful attempts to somehow describe music, I'd argue that at least some of the unique soundscapes found on this new 2L release may remind once again of Varèse and his totally distinctive use of both orchestra and (occasionally, at least) quasi-sound effects.

The back cover and insert booklet included with this release give some general outlines of the concept of this album, which seeks to unite "music, lyrics and the sacred space of the cathedral" in what have evidently since 1996 been annual performances devoted to an overarching idea of "Peace". "Peace" may not be the first thing that instantly springs to mind in the challenging opening PAX by Martin Ødegaard, where weird saxophone sonorities (which struck me as rather Varèse like) combine with almost Ligeti-esque voices to create an ethereal but still slightly unsettling soundscape. Things are probably a good deal more "traditional" with Cecilie Ore's Speak LOUDER! which offers a really gorgeous choral setting of Genesis 1:28 which may have a kind of contemporary subtext, as disclosed in the liner notes. Another saxophone quartet offering, A Current Peace, by Eyolf Dale, explores some really interesting sonorities that end up sounding like a pipe organ at times. Pollination by Stine Sørlie, combines spoken and sung material which recreates nature sounds like birdcall, buzzing bees and wafting breezes. LUX is another exploration of low sonorities by Martin Ødegaard, with added choir and female soloists, quoting the Lux aeterna section of the Catholic Requiem, which probably unavoidably will once again remind some of György Ligeti, as may well the vocal work itself.

PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

While there is an AVC 1080 video component to this release, it's really just a standard menu, as can be seen in the fifth photo accompanying this review. A few "moving parts" are included, with the track titles changing and a complete tracklist also available, along with a credits pop up informational screen. You can control which audio codec you prefer via the colored buttons on your remote (see the fifth photo I've included with this review for a "guide") and so really don't need to have a monitor employed to enjoy this release.

PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It probably won't surprise anyone who has checked out 2L's often dazzlingly well recorded efforts that label honcho and chief engineer Morten Lindberg evidently held the record for most Grammy nominations without a win, until he finally scored his first statuette for surround sound or "immersive" recording for Lux - Nidarosdomens jentekor & TrondheimSolistene. To my ears, there's no finer high res audio being offered, especially of contemporary music, than what 2L releases, and that's once again the case with this wonderfully spacious yet intimate sounding recording. Per 2L's standard operating procedure, there are a glut of audio codecs available, including Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0. As Lindberg and his performing groups often seem to favor, the artists here were laid out "in the round", and that layout is imaged to near perfection in the surround offerings on the Blu-ray disc. That decision in and of itself plants the listener squarely in the middle of enveloping soundscapes, and both instrumental and choral forces are rendered with excellent fidelity and some pretty amazing dynamic range.

PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While there is no on disc bonus content other than mShuttle availability, 2L also includes a CD and a really nicely appointed insert booklet with quite a bit of background information on many of the pieces.

PAX - Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Anyone who thinks Norwegian music began and ended with Grieg will get a rather startling wake up call with this release, not to mention any number of 2L's other offerings which focus on Norwegian composers and performing groups. This particular album will challenge some listeners, though maybe thinking about the climactic light show in 2001: A Space Odyssey will aid some in getting through the Ødegaard works in particular. Joking aside, there's some absolutely fascinating and I'd argue gorgeous music on tap here, and audiophiles with an adventurous bent who appreciate excellent engineering should certainly find this a worthwhile listen. Recommended.