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Concerto for Alto Saxophone (Schuller)
General Info
Year: 1983 / 2021
Duration: c. 19:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Saxophone and orchestra
Publisher: Unknown
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Movements
1. Con moto
2. Arioso - 3:55
3. Lively
Instrumentation
Full Score
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The version for Saxophone and ensemble of saxes is a homogenous setting, much as a string orchestra. The first performance in that setting, by arranger, Joseph Bozich, was given by the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, February 3, 2021.
Gunther was indefatigable, a 24/7 ally to all who approached music with hard work, musical honesty and integrity. Charles Peltz was Gunther’s greatest advocate in the last 10-15 years of Gunther’s life, and the Gunther Schuller Society was formed with John Heiss and son George Schuller to carry on and support that tradition in the future, as well as to preserve Gunther’s legacy.
- Program Note adapted from Ken Radnofsky
I wrote my Saxophone Concerto in 1983 at the instigation of Kenneth Radnofsky, in honor of his teacher, Joseph Allard, who was active in New York (at The Juilliard School), in Boston (at New England Conservatory), and at many other music schools. He was the superb, inspiring mentor of hundreds of clarinetists and saxophonists. I first heard of Joe Allard when he played with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and I have known him personally since the mid-1940s. The deep respect and love that all his students have for him is evidenced by their collective commission of the Concerto.
It is in three contrasting movements, of which the second, Arioso, is for saxophone and strings only. This movement carries the further markings Molto adagio—Quasi recitativo—Sempre flessibile, and it exploits the lyric character of the saxophone.
- Program Note by composer
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- New England Conservatory (Boston, Mass.) Wind Ensemble (Joseph Bozich, conductor; Megan Dillon, alto saxophone) - 3 February 2021
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Blue Dawn into White Heat (1997)
- Brass Quintet No. 2 (1993)
- Bright and Sassy
- Combination March (as arranger)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone (arr. Bozich) (1983/2021)
- Diptych for Brass Quintet and Concert Band
- Double Quintet for Wind and Brass Quintets
- Eine Kleine Posaunenmusik
- Fanfare for St Louis
- From Here to There (2013)
- Jumpin' in the Future
- Lines and Contrasts
- Meditation
- Nature's Way
- On Winged Flight
- Refrains
- Saxophobia. See: Tribute to Rudy Wiedoeft
- Song and Dance
- Study in Textures
- Symphony No. 3, "In Praise of Winds" (1981)
- Symphony for Brass and Percussion (1950)
- Tear Drop
- Transformation
- Tre Invenzioni for Chamber Ensembles
- Tribute to Rudy Wiedoeft (as arranger; ed. Hegvik) (1918/199-?)
- Saxophobia (as arranger) (1918/199-?)
Resources
- The Gunther Schuller Society Accessed 2 February 2021
- Schuller, G. (1983). Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (1983) [score]. Associated Music Publishers: New York.
- "Winds on Wednesdays: Stravinsky, Schuller, Reinecke, Brant, & Mozart." New England Conservatory, 3 February 2021. Web. Accessed 2 February 2021