Transcribing rock music for a classical setting can be a a real challenge. Required to ape the primal energies generated by a rock group, the orchestra can often suffer from a cumbersome, unwieldy rigidity, wholly lacking the distorted fluidity or amped velocity of a rock band in full flight. This is not a criticism that can be levelled at the Altrock Chamber Quartet, who’ve taken on a series of transcriptions of works by the likes of Fred Frith, Yugen, Univers Zero and others within the loose affiliation of the Rock In Opposition movement.
This success lies partly in the proximity that RIO’s close ensembles’ occupy in relation to orchestral chamber music, ensuring that precious little vitality of the original music is lost in translation. The other critical factor stems from Giovanni Venosta’s sprightly scoring for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and on one track, piano.
Although inherently dark and sombre in nature, the 10 pieces selected here avoid being ponderous or irresolute. Indeed, a few of the structurally thorny compositions are in some cases improved upon and clarified thanks to lithe, supple arrangements and terrifically deft performances by the quartet.
