bee sage by Duo Gross & Schouten

Katharina Gross - violoncello & Fie Schouten - (bass) clarinet

In their first duo album bee sage, Katharina Gross and Fie Schouten immerse themselves with dedication in the special aesthetics of the works composed for them. The listener gets to feel and hear a contrasting program up close.

In his work, Dimitris Andrikopoulos explores the boundaries of the audible. The work begins with a fascinating silence, which transforms into restlessness as the piece progresses and finally escalates into an explosive outburst. Doina Rotaru’s Masks also has the two musicians play small percussion instruments, which stimulates a varied, lively dialog between the musicians and their instruments. The work of Istanbul-based composer Tolga Tüzün likes to experiment with spatial concepts. In his exciting compositional style, rhythmic overlays, microtonal progressions and contrasting individual chords and tones collide. The new works by spectral composer Rozalie Hirs and the fragile sound world of Kaija Saariaho captivate with their extraordinary poetry, which can be experienced almost meditatively by the listener thanks to the extremely subtle sounds on both instruments, thus transporting them to another atmosphere/dimension.

REVIEW
Spencer Prewitt, The Clarinet Audio Reviews 
oct 2025
"In bee sage, performers Fie Schouten and Katharina Gross offer a masterclass in sonic exploration, drawing the listener into a rich and varied sound world. This album showcases the versatility and expressive depth of the cello and clarinet with unwavering control and deep musical insight. Schouten and Gross not only meet the formidable technical demands of this repertoire, but transcend them, offering interpretations that are emotionally resonant, intellectually compelling, and artistically unified."
Read all: 
https://clarinet.org/tco-audio-reviews-october-2025/

(Opus Klassiek, Siebe Riedstra Jan 2025)
With this recital, the duo Gross & Schouten deliver a brilliant performance, not only because of their stunning virtuosity and unique repertoire. Their unconditional commitment is seconded by the idealism of the brains behind the one-man label Attacca, Sieuwert Verster, and a truly unrivalled recording quality. Wonderful photos too, and as an extra, you can find a teaser of this intriguing album on YouTube.

The Dutch clarinettist Fie Schouten is a specialist in the performance of new music with a preference for playing on the low clarinets. She can be heard extensively as a soloist and with her own groups. She is Artistic Director of a bass clarinet festival titled Basklarinet Festijn and Professor of Bass Clarinet / contemporary music at the Prince Claus Conservatoire Groningen. (pict M. Palitta)

fieschouten.nl
bassclarinet.nl
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