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Saxophone Concerto (Glazunov)

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Alexander Glazunov

Alexander Glazunov (trans. Jos Dobbelstein)


This work bears the designation Opus 109.


General Info

Year: 1934 / 2016
Duration: c. 14:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Baton Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €142.00   |   Score Only (print) - €26.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Alto Saxophone
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
String Bass

Cello


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Concerto in E flat major for alto saxophone and string orchestra, Op. 109, was written by Alexander Glazunov in 1934. It is deeply rooted in Romanticism, and has entered the standard saxophone repertoire.

Although invented in the early 1840s, the saxophone was still fairly new and unfamiliar in Glazunov's day; it remained untouched for a long time as it was considered "middle class". However, Glazunov was enthralled by the sound of the saxophone: a new timbre in the musical world.

The work premiered in Nyköping, Sweden, on 25 November 1934, with Sigurd Raschèr, a famous German saxophonist, as soloist. It is Raschèr who is credited for bringing about the concerto's composition. He hounded Glazunov for a saxophone concerto, so much so that the composer wrote to a colleague that he had started the piece in March "under the influences of attacks rather than requests from the Danish (sic) saxophonist named Sigurd Rascher". He completed the work in June 1934.

Glazunov almost certainly never heard his Saxophone Concerto publicly performed, as the first Paris performance of the work did not occur until after his death.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Dutch saxophonist and arranger Jos Dobbelstein transcribed the piece for alto saxophone with accompaniment of a wind ensemble.

- Program Note from publisher


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

  • Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Va.) Wind Ensemble (Christopher Dobbins, conductor; Truman Chancy, alto saxophone) - 4 April 2022
  • Oregon State University (Corvallis) Wind Ensemble (Erik Leung, conductor; Benson Truong alto saxophone) - 26 May 2021
  • NorthWinds Symphonic Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (John Bell, conductor; Henry Scamurra, alto saxophone) - 5 May 2019


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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