KEBYART premieres Georg Friedrich Haas’s String Quartet No. 2, a work written specifically for the ensemble

On March 23, in Auditorium 400 of the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, KEBYART marked one of the most significant milestones in its history: the world premiere of Georg Friedrich Haas’s Saxophone Quartet No. 2 (2026), a work commissioned by the National Center for the Promotion of Music and dedicated to the ensemble.

This premiere not only confirms the close artistic relationship between the Austrian composer and the quartet, but also establishes KEBYART as one of the leading international figures in contemporary saxophone composition.

A work born of artistic confidence

Haas’s new quartet is the result of a deeply collaborative process. The composer himself has highlighted the ensemble’s uniqueness, stating:

“They are incredible musicians, very open-minded […] capable of exploring these intonational possibilities and creating results that truly move the audience.”

The work is subtitled *In Memory of James Cecil Williams* and is dedicated to the composer’s father-in-law, a saxophonist, whose memory runs through the piece with deep emotional resonance.

This intimate backdrop translates into music that alternates between moments of great physical intensity and passages with an almost narrative quality, like a deconstructed blues that emerges and dissolves into a constantly shifting soundscape.

A radical sound experience

Far from a traditional ensemble, the quartet unfolds like an expanded soundscape: up to nine saxophones on stage, arranged in two duos that envelop the audience.

Here, Haas explores one of the central elements of his musical language: microtonal beats—those vibrations that arise between nearly identical sounds and create a perceptual experience that is both physical and auditory.

The result is a piece lasting about 40 minutes that invites an immersive, almost ritualistic listening experience, where time seems to stand still and one’s attention shifts to what truly matters: the sound phenomenon itself.

A turning point in the quartet's career

Critics have hailed this concert as one of the most significant in the ensemble’s history, highlighting both the technical demands of the score and KEBYART’s ability to perform it with ease and depth.

This premiere cements KEBYART’s position as a leading partner for the great composers of our time, reaffirming its commitment to contemporary creation and the expansion of the saxophone quartet repertoire.

Upcoming events

Following this major premiere, KEBYART continues a season of significant international exposure with several notable highlights:

• Residency at the Bodensee Festival 2026, featuring an extensive concert tour throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria during the month of May, including collaborations with the Bodensee Philharmonie and various chamber music programs.

• The second concert of their residency at the Palau de la Música Catalana, on April 28, is titled “Kebyart & Friends” and features a program that includes works by Steve Reich, Caroline Shaw, Ravel, and Stravinsky.

These projects strengthen the quartet’s presence on some of the most prominent stages on the European scene and build on an artistic vision rooted in interpretive excellence, innovation, and an ongoing dialogue with contemporary music.