Elliot Midwood, executive producer

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Janaki String Triodebut

1-2 KrzysztofPendereckiString Trio

1 (7:17) 2 (4:53)

3-4 LudwigvanBeethovenStringTrioinCMinorOpus9,Nr3

3Adagioconespressione (7:07) 4Scherzo:Allegromoltoevivace (3:04)

5-6 JasonBarabbaString Trio

5ObstinateSpaces (3:40) 6Anamnesis (2:34)

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The PS Audio Quartet

ElliotMidwoodandSteveHoffmanaretwoofthetitanswhohaveenabledYarlungRecordstosucceed.Stevekindlytookusunderhiswingtomasterourfirstreleaseandhehasgenerouslyworkedwithuseversince.

SteveHoffmansupportedour“lessismore”conceptofminimalistrecordingtechniquesandtaughtushowtohandlemyriadsituationsthatwouldhavebeensomucheasierto“solve”usingmultiplemicrophonesandmanytracks.Instead,StevehaschampionedYarlung’sdirect-to-two-trackmethodsandprovidedimportantinspirationanddirection.

ElliotMidwoodhashelpedusrefineourrecordingtechniques,designedmicrophonepreamplificationandmonitoringequipmentforus,andservedasexecutiveproducerforanumberofourmostsuccessfulanalogreleasesaswellasthisDSDquartet.WeoftenuseElliot’sstudioatAcousticImagetochecktestrecordingsandhoneourmicrophonesetups.Andwealwayslistenwithhimbeforeanalbumgoestothepressingplant.ItisfairtosaythatYarlungrecordingsare“born”atAcousticImage.

BothSteveandElliotthinkhighlyofPSAudio’sDirectStreamdigitaltoanalogconverter.Stevehaswrittenaboutthecompanyextensively.ElliotusestheDirectStreamforhisdigitalplaybackatAcousticImageandhehassoldanumberofthesebeautifulunitstohiscustomers.

WearethereforedoublypleasedthatPSAudioagreedtosponsorYarlung’sfourthquartetofalbumsinDSD.ThanksespeciallytoPaulMcGowanandBillLeebensatPSAudioformakingthispossible.

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CriticalresponsetothePSAudioDirectStreamDAChasbeenoverflowing.TheAbsoluteSoundgavePSAudiothecovetedGoldenEarawardandreviewerVadeForresterwrote:

It’s easily the best DAC I’ve heard in my system, making digitally-recorded music sound better than I’ve ever heard it.

MarjaVanderlooandHenkBoot,whoawardedthePSAudioDACtheirBlueMoonAward,enthuse:

In conclusion, the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC is a bit like following Howard Carter, the archeologist who discovered King Tut’s tomb. Its ability to uncover hidden beauty is some rare form of sonic archeology…. With its great sound quality and versatile usefulness, the DirectStream DAC from PS Audio offers the best way we’ve yet encountered to convert “digital” music into real music.

SteveHoffmandoesnotholdanythingbackwhenhecommentsaboutPSAudio:

The sound is truly better than anything I’ve ever had here, and I’ve had the best float in here from time to time.

…the illusion of life is amazing with this set up. It’s truly the best in this regard I’ve heard in my house. The sound is effortless, natural, dynamic, has the best ambiance retrieval I’ve experienced here…. The PS Audio digs up the missing chunks of time and space to complete the illusion of real musicians in a real space.

CongratulationsPSAudio!Andthankyou!

BobAttiyeh,producer

www.yarlungrecords.com

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Thosewhowouldbemoantheearlydemiseofclassicalmusic—ofsplendidnewperformersarrivingonthesceneandavidaudiencestogreetthem—aresimplyoutoftheloopthesedays.Inthatlooptheoutlookisfarrosier.Youngcomposers,risingthrough

theranksatschoolsandconservatorieshereandabroad,areindeedgettingtheirmusicheardbysympatheticandenthusiasticaudiences.Moreandmoreperformingensembles—chambergroups,smallorchestras,live-plus-electronicmixes—arecomingtothefore,carryingoffmajorprizesandpullingdownmajordatesinmusiccentersacrossthemap.Assmallbutimpressivepositiveevidence,hereisthismusic:performancesbythreesplendidyoungstringplayerswho,asstudents,decidedtocometogetherasafiniteensemble,nowhavecarriedofftwoofchambermusic’smostprestigiousprizes,andaredevotingtimeandeffortonthis,theirfirstrecording,tomusicbypast,establishedmastersbutalsototwocomposersoftheirowntime.

ThethreemembersoftheJanakiTrio—violinistSerenaMcKinney,violistKatieKadarauchandcellistArnoldChoi—foundcommoncausewhilestudentsatTheColburnMusicSchoolinLosAngeles,andthequalityoftheirperformancestherewonfirstrecognitioninthe2005InternationalColemanFoundationAward.OnlyayearlatertheTriohadmovedskyward,withNewYork’smuch-covetedConcertArtistsGuildAward.Now,asinevitableanddelightfulconsequence,theyarereadywiththefirstrecordedevidenceoftheirhighskills—andalso,inthebreadthofthisprogram,oftheirawarenessofthebroadscopeofthemusicalworldtheyarenowouttoconquer.Theirprogramincludesonefamiliarmasterpiecebyoneofmusic’sestablishedmasters,anotherbyacontemporarymasteralsobecomingwellknown.

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Themediumofthestringtrio,ascomparedtothemorefamiliarquartet,isachallengingone.Thetextureis,naturally,sparse;insteadofthelushnessoftwoviolinsinharmonyweconcentrateonthestrengthofthemelody,andwealsoconcentrateonthelowervoices,mostofallthecello.

Beethoven’sTrios—hewrotefourinall—areearlyworks,butalreadyintheCMinorworkonthisdiscthetreadofthedramaticmasterisapparent.Justtheopening,adark,menacingmelodythatshowsupagaininthegreatOpus131Quartetofmanyyearslater,tellsusthat.CMinorwas,ofcourse,Beethoven’smostdramatictonalitythroughouthislifetime;eventhoughthisearlytriotendstoslitherintohappierC-majortonesratherreadily,thedarkshadowsarenevercompletelyoutofearshot.

Theshort,two-movementStringTrioofKrzysztofPendereckidatesfrom1990—later,therefore,thanthetimeofhisviolent,dramaticheaven-stormerslikehisoperaThe Devilsandthebigchoralworks.HereisPendereckiinaconversational,almostneo-romanticmood.Hisinstrumentschateachotherupduringtheagreeableslowmovement,andthendosoagainatabusierpaceinthesecondmovement.Thischarmerofamovementbeginsasafugueandgallopscongeniallytowarditsend.

AfterearninghisBachelor’sdegreeinLatinAmericanStudiesatOccidentalCollege,LosAngeles-basedcomposerJasonBarabbastudiedmusicattheUniversityofChicago,theUniversityofCalifornia,IrvineandtheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles.HisteachersincludeJohnEaton,AndrewImbrie,ChristopherDobrianandDavidLefkowitz.HisDNR forLarge OrchestrawasrecentlyrecordedbytheKievPhilharmonicforERMMedia’s“MasterworksoftheNewEra”recordingproject,andwillbereleasedonVolume10ofthatseries.HisrecentcommissionsincludethisTrioforJanakiandStudy in OrangefortheOrangeCountyHighSchoolfortheArts.HisTrioisinfourmovements.BelaBartóklooksinnowandthen,especiallyinthehauntingthird-movementnocturne.

— Alan Rich

Producer’s Notes:YarlungRecordshadthepleasureofrecordingJanakiStringTrio’sdebutalbuminFebruaryandMarch,2006.AswithpreviousYarlungRecordsalbums,weusedminimalistrecordingtechniquestobestcapturetheindividualsoundofthesemusicians,theirinstruments,andthenaturalwarmthandtransparencyofZipperHallinLosAngeles.Forthisrecording,IchosetheAKGC-24tubestereomicrophoneandrecordeddirectlytotwotracksthroughourtubemicrophonepreampsandcustomcableswithasshortalengthaspossibletopreservethepresenceofthisperformance.Werecordedanalogtape,aswellashighdefinitiondigitalmedia.Ihopeyouenjoythesound.

CapturingJanakiTrioonthisrecording,anddoingjusticetothegroup’stalent,dynamicsandenergy,wasachallengeandatreat.Thealbum’srepertoire,fromBeethoven’sTrioinCMinorwrittenthelate18thcenturytoBarabba’sString Trio,commissionedforJanakiin

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2006,providesSerena,KatieandArnoldwithrichmaterialtoshowcasetheirabilityatthistimeinthetrio’sbuddinginternationalconcertcareer.

ThankstomyfriendsBarbaraVydenforintroducingmetoJanakiTrioandchampioningitscause,andtoDebbyBermanforhersupportandforherhelpwiththeliveconcertrecordingofthePendereckiTrio.SpecialthankstoMargieMcKinney,whoenabledustorecordthisalbuminZipperHall.IwishtodedicatethisalbumtothememoryofLorraineHuntLieberson,whosemagnificentvoicesoundedlikeKatie’sviola,andwhosemusicalityinspiredallofus.

— Bob Attiyeh,producer

Janaki String Triobringstogetherthreefriendsandvirtuosomusicianswhosepassionandcommitmentcaptivatetheiraudiencesastheytackletheirmusicwithfreshness,energyandmaturity.FoundedatTheColburnSchoolofMusicinLosAngelesinearly2005,thegroupsoonwonthe59thAnnualColemanChamberMusicCompetition,andinMarch2006,thethreesomecametonationalattentionasthefirststringtrioevertowintheConcertArtistsGuildInternationalCompetition.TheTrioalsogarneredtheinauguralBMIFoundationCommissionPrize,awardedbyConcertArtistsGuildatthe2006Competition.

TheJanakiTriomakesitsNewYorkrecitaldebutinCarnegieHall’sWeillRecitalHallinJanuary2007.SelectedtoparticipateinCanada’sBanffMusicFestivalinJune2006,thishonorfollowsanexciting2005-06season,highlightedbyperformancesonsuchseriesasSundaysLiveattheLosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt,LagerstromChamberMusicatCaltech,SouthBayChamberMusicSocietyandtheMusicGuildChamberMusicSeries.

TheensembletakesitsnamefromtheSanskritwordJanaki(YAHN-uh-kye),whichsymbolizesself-realization,aqualityJanakiTrioaimstofacilitateinthemselvesandintheirlistenersthroughtheirmusic.Indeed,theTriomakesauniqueconnectionwithaudiences,notonlywiththestandardworksoftherepertory,butalsowithrarelyheardnewmasterworks,suchasthestringtriosbyPendereckiandBarabbaonthisalbum.Theaudience’sconsistententhusiasmforthisadventurousprogramminghasconvincedtheTriothatlistenersareopentonewmusicwhenitispresentedinanexcitingway.Thishasstrengthenedtheensemble’scommitmenttoexpandthestringtriorepertoirebycommissioningnewworksfrombothcelebratedandemergingcomposers.JanakiTriocommissionedJasonBarabba’sString Triofortheirupcomingconcertrepertoireandforthisrecording.

EachmemberoftheJanakiTriohasastrongcommitmenttomusiceducationandhasorganizedandperformedinoutreachconcertsacrosstheUnitedStatesandCanada.In2006-07,theJanakiTrioworkedwiththeDaCameraSocietyinpromotingmusiceducationin

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elementaryschools,hospitals,retirementcommunitiesandothercommunityvenuesthroughouttheLosAngelesarea.

Individually,themembersoftheJanakiTriohaveperformedattheMarlboro,Tanglewood,YellowBarn,Aspen,GreatLakes,andSchleswig-HolsteinmusicfestivalsandhaveperformedwithsucheminentmusiciansasDavidSoyer,RonaldLeonard,JaimeLaredoandMitsukoUchida.

MembersoftheTriohavestudiedwithKimKashkashian,IsodoreCohen,SylviaRosenberg,andtheGuarneri,Juilliard,Cleveland,Orion,andTakacsQuartets.Currently,theTriostudiesindividuallyandcollectivelywithRobertLipsett,andwithPaulColettiandRonaldLeonard,whoalsoserveastheTrio’scoachesatTheColburnSchool.

Serena McKinneyperformsonaCamillusCamilliviolin(circa1742);Katie KadarauchperformsonaGiovanniGrancinoviola(circa1695);andArnold ChoiperformsonaCarloTononicello(circa1725).

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Inasurprisinglyshortperiodoftime,theadventurousGRAMMY®AwardwinningclassicalmusiclabelYarlunghasproducedaneclecticcatalogofimpeccablyrecordedperformancesbyarosterofadventurousmusicians,includingmanythatarewell-knownandotherssoontobe.Thevariedrepertoire,witharefreshinglyinternationalflavor,coverseverythingfrommodernpercussiontosolopianoandviolintolargescalesymphonicworkswithsingers.

Theminimallymiked“purist”recordingsproducedandengineeredbylabelfounderBobAttiyehinsomeoftheworld’sgreatconcertspaces,arecapturedsimultaneouslyonanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigitalandreleasedonvinyl,reel-to-reeltape,CDandashighresolutionStudioMasterdownloads.

Yarlung’sproductionandsonicmodelisdistilledfromtherecordingindustry’sgloriouspast—onethatpessimistswerecertaincouldneverbesuccessfullyresurrected—whileitsforward-thinkingbusinessanddistributionmodelpointsthewaytowardsahealthyfuturefora“recordbusiness”longgivenupfordeadbytrendy“futurists.”

Forolderloversofrecordedclassicalrepertoire,Yarlung’scatalogrepresentsareturntosonicandmusicalgreatness.Foryoungeronesfamiliaronlywithdynamicallyandspatiallycompressedlowresolutionrecordings,thesefromYarlungarelike3DIMAXbutwithouttheglasses.

-MichaelFremerEditoranalogplanet.comSeniorcontributingeditor,Stereophile

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Onceuponatimetherewasalandofhi-fi.Anditwasgonealltoosoon.ButthankHeavensforYarlungRecords.Intheageofcompresseddigitaldownloads,itisrefreshingtohearrealsoundandrealmusicagain,reminiscentofRCALivingStereoinitsgoldenage,orMercuryRecordsatitsheight.Yarlung’ssoundisliquidandtransparent,justasifyouweresittingintheconcerthallswithsuperbacoustics,wheretheserecordingsaremade.WaltDisneyConcertHallinLosAngeles,AmbassadorHallinPasadena,andZipperHallatTheColburnSchool,tonameafew.

WhatMercurydidforHowardHansonandtheEastman-RochesterOrchestrainthefifties,YarlungRecordsisnowdoingforTheColburnOrchestraandMetropolitanOperamezzo-sopranoSashaCooke.YoucanheartheevidenceonthealbumIfYouLoveForBeauty,releasedin2012.Whowouldhavethoughtthataconservatoryorchestra(grantedtheplayersareyoungsuperstars,soloistsall),couldcapturetheworld’sattentionlikethis.IunderstandthatYarlungdoesthisbyusingsimilartechniquestothoseinthegoldenageofrecordings.Onlyonestereomicrophoneforsmallerensembles,anduptofourmicrophonesforfullorchestras,recordingdirectlytotwotrackanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigital.

Don’tworry,Yarlung’srecordingsarealloniTunes,AmazonMP3andsoforth,butyoucanalsoorder180GramvirginvinylLPs,exquisitelymadeCDsmasteredbymightySteveHoffman,andhighresolutiondownloads,allavailableworldwidethroughNaxosGlobalLogisticsinMunich.MostexcitingforanalogtapeenthusiastsmightbetheSonoruSSeriesofrecordingson¼inchmastertape.IrecentlyreviewedYarlung’sMartinChalifourandtheLosAngelesPhilharmonicinWaltDisneyConcertHall,anotheralbumIrecommendhighly.Yarlungoffersusatruefeastfortheears,andthisreviewerforone,wantsmore.

-MoriShimaStereoSound,Japan

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Janaki String Triodebut

RecordedFebruary13&14andMarch15&18,2006inZipperHallatTheColburnSchool,LosAngelesRecordingEngineer:BobAttiyehMonitoringEquipment:ElliotMidwoodMasteringEngineers:SteveHoffman&KevinGrayDesign:KathyMorris,DesignCorralCoverPhotography:BrianBlevins

YarlungRecords,LLC10920WilshireBoulevard#150-9162LosAngeles,California90024-6502www.yarlungrecords.com

©2006YarlungRecords.Allrightsreserved.Unauthorizedduplicationisaviolationofapplicablelaws.

1-2 Penderecki String Trio

3-4 Beethoven String Trio in C Minor Opus 9, Nr 3

5-6 Barabba String Trio

YAR62376DSD