Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble (Pegram)
General Info
Year: 2018
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Alto saxophone and piano
Publisher: JPEG Music
Cost: Score and Parts – Rental
Movements
1. Con bravura – 6:20
2. Grave, molto rubato – 4:55
3. Vivacissimo – 4:50
Instrumentation
Full Score
Solo Alto Saxophone
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III-IV
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Cabasa
- Chimes
- Crotales
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-Hat
- Marimba
- Sandpaper Blocks
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal (large)
- Tam-Tam
- Triangle (small, medium and large)
- Vibraphone
- Whip
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble (2018) was commissioned jointly by the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble and the Mt. San Antonio College Wind Ensemble (Dr. Gregory Xavier Whitmore, conductor). The world premiere performance by the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble -- under the direction of Dr. Gregory Xavier Whitmore and featuring alto saxophone soloist Andrew Harrison -- was presented in Costa Mesa, California, on March 10, 2019.
In the first movement, the saxophone bolts forward with brilliance and energy. An equally virtuosic ensemble counterpart constantly amps up the tension, making for a lightning-fast musical repartee. The second movement demonstrates the lyric capacity and sonic richness of the saxophone. In setting this dark middle movement, I strove to write sweeping lines and lush, film noir-inspired textures. The music here is lonesome and pensive, creating a warm atmosphere of haunting pathos. The final movement is a jaunty escapade based on a lyrical, sweet melody. The tune meanders through a series of developments and variations, all the while showing off the saxophone’s extensive range, bright timbral possibilities, and extraordinary agility.
- Program Note by composer
Awards
- ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize, 2018, winner
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles) Thornton Wind Ensemble (Gregory X. Whitmore, conductor; Francis Cisneros, alto saxophone) - 11 February 2022
- Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Shawn D. Vondran, conductor) – 22 February 2020 (CBDNA 2020 North Central Division Conference, Chicago, Ill.)
- Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Shawn D. Vondran, conductor; Taimur Sullivan, saxophone) - 7 February 2020
- Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (Costa Mesa, Calif.) (Gregory Xavier Whitmore, conductor; Andrew Harrison, alto saxophone) – 10 March 2019 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble (2018)
- Crush (2019)
- L.A.tudes (2023)
- Neon Nights (2013)
Resources
- Jules Pegram website Accessed 21 May 2019
- Perusal score