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Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (Hazo)

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Samuel Hazo

Samuel Hazo


General Info

Year: 2008 / 2011
Duration: c. 8:05
Difficulty: V (solo); III (ensemble) (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $195.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo E-flat Alto Saxophone
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Hi-Hat
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

On Friday, December 17th, 2004, I was attending a concert at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The concert was performed by the William Mason High School Band, and they had programmed a piece of mine titled Perthshire Majesty that begins with a soprano saxophone solo. On my way out of the concert, I was approached by Lynn Klock, a wonderfully talented saxophonist and music professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He asked me if I would consider accepting a commission to compose a saxophone concerto. The timing was perfect because I had always wanted to write a concerto, but none were in my commission schedule.

When the time came near for me to begin composing, the Lawrence Township Schools and Performing Arts Institute graciously came aboard to complete the commission consortium. The concerto was premiered during the Institute’s summer session in 2008.

My approach to this composition was not from the perspective of the saxophonist, but rather I wrote the whole piece as though I was in the audience listening to it. To be honest, I wrote what I’d want to hear in a sax concerto. The main premise of this concerto is to showcase the stylistic range of the alto saxophone, as this instrument possesses such a wide span of musical styles when compared to any other instrument. Most of all, I wanted to explore the saxophone’s beautiful classical tone combined with its ability to instantly lean into a blue note and still keep its character. The alto saxophone can interchange musical styles without losing its nature; more than even the guitar, piano or percussion instruments. It has a breadth to its personality that makes it virtually impossible for the saxophonist to vary styles beyond what the listener will accept. Beyond all other qualities, it is this one that piqued my curiosity the most, making the saxophone the voice of all moods, and expressing each in its own unique way

- Program Note by composer


Commissioned by and for saxophonist Lynn Klock, the Lawrence Township Schools, and the Performing Arts Institute of Indianapolis, Indiana.

- Program Note from score


Commercial Discography


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Hazo, S. (2011). Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, Wisc.
  • Samuel Hazo website Accessed 17 June 2021
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