This is a great original work for the saxophone, medium in difficulty. Ms. Rueff was a very accomplished composer, winning the prestigious Prix de Rome (the highest fine arts award given by the French government). This piece is in two parts, song and dance (after the title) the song being a very emotional and sincere melody. The dance really moves and presents challenges not only in technique, but in rhythm as there are many notes that tie across the measure and areas of hemiola. It is an extremely enjoyable piece to perform ending with a very strong but playful ending.
Pierne was a great French composer and conductor winning the Prix de Rome in 1882, and conducting the premiere of Stravinsky's famous ballet The Firebird . This piece marked with elegance is a light, but prideful song. A canzonetta is the direct ancestor of the sonata, meaning the piano doesn't just accompany the soloist, but plays an equal role. The accents and rhythm create a stong pulse and light, dance-like feel.
This is a wonderful show piece at a medium/diffucult level that audiences just love. A caprice is a sort of composed improvisation, in this case a theme and variations. The theme here is a simple, child-like song that increases in difficulty with every repetition, ending in a flurry of notes and an optional ending that results in an altissimo G.
A accompanied solo version of the original recorded by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. This solo is medium in difficulty due to its 5/4 meter. The rhythms alone are common and the range, standard; but when combined with a quick tempo (176) and the meter, it creates an unusual feel. This is a great tune though, from the cool school made famous by Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and Brubeck.
Hartley is a very substantial composer in the saxophone world, having written dozens of solo and chamber works for the instrument. This piece specifically for the baritone saxophone is a contemporary work. The third movement is the most accessible to young players and really explores the beautiful, but seldom used upper register of the horn.
QUARTET REPERTOIRE
Quartet Alexander Glazunov
Miniature Jazz Suite #1 Lennie Niehaus
Ave Maria Franz Biebl/arr. Ziegler
Tucker Trot Six Brown Brothers
Students must have an original copy of their solo. Quartet parts will be provided. All of the solos can be purchased from J.W. Pepper.
