The Saxophone - A New Face in Chamber Music

Oboe Quartet in F major, K. 370 (1781) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Rondeau

A staple of the oboe repertoire, Mozart’s Oboe Quartet is his only piece of chamber music written for the instrument! Composed in 1781 for oboe virtuoso Friedrich Ramm, Mozart wrote this quartet to illustrate the technical improvements made to the instrument at that time. Originally scored for oboe and three strings, the arrangement we will perform has the soprano saxophone take on the oboe chair, with the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones performing the string parts. A truly colorful arrangement, we couldn’t start our program without it!

Rondo for 4 Saxophones (1970) - Zdeněk Lukáš (1928–2007)

Composed in 1970 for the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, Rondo for 4 Saxophones is a true masterwork for the medium. One of the most prolific Czech composers, Zdeněk Lukáš’s career spanned throughout the 20th century, composing over 330 works. Rondo 4 for Saxophones truly allows each voice of the quartet to shine. From a beautiful, almost haunting tenor solo, to a duet between the alto and baritone, and a dolce yet commanding soprano solo, the high energy theme of the work remains intact throughout.

Lyric Quartet (1960) - William Grant Still (1895-1978)
I. The Sentimental One
II. The Quiet One
III. The Jovial One

Often referred to as the “Dean of African-American Classical Composers”, William Grant Still was prolific American composer and an influential figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Of his many accolades, Still was the first African-American composer to have his work performed by a leading orchestra, to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, and to have his opera be produced by a major opera company. Still’s Lyric Quartet, often referred to as a “Portrait of Three Friends”, is exactly that. A three movement work each based on a close friend of the composer, Still does a fantastic job capturing the intricacies of each character in each movement.

Pop Rock in Metal (2018) - Olivia Kieffer b. 1980

Pop Rock in Metal is an absolute blast for not only the audience, but the performers as well. This post-minimalist work is high-energy from start to finish. According to her program notes, Kieffer writes: “I've been enamored with saxophones ever since I started writing music; I love how they can sound like many diffrent instruments at once, and have such an enormous range of timbral possibilities. It took standing in front of a 40-piece sax orchestra to really "get" the power of sound that can come from the instrument. It's Metal!”

Three Preludes (1926) - George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Originally a collection of short piano pieces by American composer George Gershwin, Three Preludes is truly a snapshot of early 20th century American classical music, as influenced by jazz. Arranged for four saxophones, this popular work captures the lively and energetic nature of its time.

This unique program illustrates the endless array of colors that the saxophone is able to evoke. Invented in the 1840's by Adolphe Sax, Sax intended for the saxophone to temper the orchestra and take on the role as a shape-shifter within the ensemble. To have the expressiveness of the strings, the power of a brass instrument, and the technical capabilities of the woodwinds, this is what Adolphe Sax intended for the saxophone. Each piece on this program allows the ensemble to take on this challenge.