If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite Jethro Tull songs would sound like if they were played by a string quartet, you’ll soon have the chance to find out. Tull leader Ian Anderson has announced the forthcoming release of Jethro Tull: The String Quartets, due March 24 via BMG. Have a listen below…
For the album, Anderson collaborates with the Carducci Quartet, along with longtime colleague John O’Hara, on 12 classic Tull pieces rearranged for the classical configuration. Among the included tracks are “Living In the Past,” “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath” and “Bungle In the Jungle.”
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Recorded in the crypt of Worcester Cathedral, U.K. and in St Kenelm’s Church, Sapperton, Gloucestershire, U.K., Anderson said that the string quartet album is “Perfect for lazy, long sunny afternoons, crisp winter nights, weddings and funerals.”
Listen to “Loco (Locomotive Breath)”…
Elaborating, Anderson said, “I felt that there were some songs rather special to me which featured the string quartet such as ‘A Christmas Song,’ ‘Reasons For Waiting’ and ‘Wond’ring Aloud. These were my first experiences of working with a quartet. John [O’Hara] came up with a few suggestions of his own which presented challenges. All had an intimacy and presence which I looked forward to recapturing.”
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Anderson plays flute on the album and sings in a few select places.
Fans can visit a dedicated page at Pledge Music to pre-order the new album.
The String Quartets Track List
“In the Past (Living In The Past)”
“Sossity Waiting (Sossity: You’re a Woman / Reasons For Waiting)”
“Bungle (Bungle In The Jungle)”
“We Used to Bach (We Used to Know / Bach Prelude C Major)”
“Farm, the Fourway (Farm On The Freeway)”
“Songs and Horses (Songs From The Wood / Heavy Horses)”
“Only the Giving (Wond’ring Aloud)”
“Loco (Locomotive Breath)”
“Pass the Bottle (A Christmas Song)”
“Velvet Gold (Velvet Green)”
“Ring Out These Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells)”
“Aquafugue (Aqualung)”
Listen to “Songs and Horses”…
Related: Read Best Classic Bands’ Ian Anderson feature interview
Watch Ian Anderson talk about the forthcoming String Quartets album
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1 Comment
Carducci Quartet are spectacularly good and this music is tremendous. I saw/heard a clip of Pass the Bottle. Not to be missed!