Nov 2
Kruger Brothers bring bluegrass to the symphony
The Kruger Brothers photo by Gian VaitlThe eclectic appeal of Jens and Uwe, the Kruger brothers, is expanding deep into the realm of classical music.
This past June, the Swiss-born bluegrassers presented the entire “Music from the Spring: A Romantic Serenade for Banjo, Guitar, Bass & Orchestra” in an appearance with the Bangor, Maine, Symphony Orchestra. Although standing ovations generously sprinkled the performance, it wasn’t exactly an overnight sensation.
Jens Kruger has spent the past two years, in collaboration with the Bangor Symphony to orchestrate his original compositions as well as music from the Kruger Brothers into the symphonic works. In the middle of the two-year work-in-progress, the project was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with an award for Artistic Excellence.
A concert similar to the Bangor event is being staged Nov. 29 when the Kruger Brothers and longtime bass player Joel Landsberg will perform excerpts of “Music from the Spring” at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., with the MSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble. It is MSU’s fourth annual Night of Stars Concert.
“It is a unique honor for us to bring these internationally acclaimed musicians to Murray State for this concert,” said Dennis Johnson, MSU director of bands and orchestra. “It will be a rare treat for our audience to hear the Kruger Brothers’ rich blend of music and it will be an enriching, memorable experience for our students to play with them.”
Critical acclaim for “Music from the Spring” includes a review by Ellen Hathaway of The Ellsworth (Maine) American who said, “There are passages that are clearly from a bluegrass tradition with a hard driving banjo rhythm and there are sweet melodic passages that only an orchestra can offer. The piece is at its best in ‘Wilkes County Breakdown.’ Here the Kruger Brothers set off with a gentle melody that builds in tempo, then the orchestra enters and builds until the whole thing becomes one strong pounding rhythm which brought this audience to its feet, clapping, stomping and totally invigorated by the experience.”
The Krugers are also poised to soon release a new CD, entitled “The Suite,” on their own Double Time label. No other details about the CD are available on the brothers’ Web site at this time.
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The Kruger Brothers have performed together worldwide since the mid 1990s. They left their native Switzerland to move to the United States in the fall of 2003. Their musical style reflects classical European influences and the American spirit. Since their first appearances in America in 1997, they have continually performed for enthusiastic audiences throughout the country. Their celebrated CDs include Jens Kruger’s solo works, “Profile” and “The” Bridge,” and the groundbreaking “Carolina Scrapbook” series. They are active as instructors at music camps, schools and workshops, sharing their passion for music with new generations of musicians and songwriters.
Bassist Landsberg grew up in New York City with a variety of musical influences, then moved to Switzerland in 1989 and performed as a bassist throughout Europe, where he met up with the Kruger Brothers and joined the group full time in 1995.
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