Balanescu Quartet
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The Balanescu Quartet is a Romanian avant-garde string quartet founded in 1987 by Alexander Bălănescu that achieved fame through the release of several complex cover versions of songs by German experimental electronic music band Kraftwerk.
The driving force behind the quartet has always been main composer and founder Alexander Bălănescu.
The quartet are mainly notable for their very distinctive style of music, which encompasses odd time rhythms, sound dissonances and complex arrangements. They have performed multiple works with a variety of other artists, including David Byrne, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Kevin Volans, Hector Zazou, Spiritualized, and Yellow Magic Orchestra.
They are the performers of the current arrangement of University Challenge's title music on BBC1 in the U.K.
They are currently signed to Mute Records. Their early albums were on Argo Records (UK).
[edit] Discography
- Michael Nyman String Quartets 1-3 (1991)
- Alexander Balanescu, Jonathan Carney, Kate Musker, Tony Hinnigan
- Byrne/Moran/Lurie/Torke (1992)
- Alexander Balanescu, Clare Connors, Bill Hawkes, Caroline Dale
- Possessed (1992)
- Luminitza (1994)
- Angels & Insects soundtrack
- East meets East (YMO by the Balanescu Quartet)
- Il Partigiano Johnny
- Featured on: How to Kill the DJ - Part 2 (2004)
- Maria T (2005)
