SKU: PR.114419850

ISBN 9781491135808. UPC: 680160681044. 9 x 12 inches.

Both a spectacular concerto for saxophone, and a dramatic tone poem on Roman mythology, QUICKSILVER is a 23-minute concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble by one of the sax literature’s most commissioned and admired composers.Through worded captions as well as gorgeously expressive tone painting, Movement 1 depicts the birth and childhood pranks of Mercury, Movement 2 shows him escorting souls to the gates of the Underworld, and Movement 3 is a phantasmagoric finale portraying Mercury as messenger amid the conflicts of other mythological figures. There are many YouTube performances available, both in the original version with Wind Ensemble, and with Piano.
In addition to being another name for the element mercury, “quicksilver” is used to describe something that changes quickly or is difficult to contain. My concerto of the same name was inspired by the Roman god Mercury, as well as the mercurial nature of the saxophone: unpredictable, very lively, and volatile. Mercury (known as Hermes in Greek mythology) is best known for his winged shoes, which allowed him to fly swiftly as the messenger of his fellow Olympians. Mercury had other duties too, including serving as the god of merchants, travelers, and tricksters; he also ushered souls of the departed to the Underworld.Quicksilver tells three tales of the Roman god. The first movement (Antics of a Newborn God) opens with the birth of Mercury; after he takes his first steps, he toddles around, gleefully looking for mischief. He stumbles across a herd of cows that belong to his brother Apollo; Mercury slyly lets the cows out of their pen before toddling onward with his mischief-making.In the second movement (Guiding Souls to the Underworld), Pluto, god of the Underworld, bids Mercury to bring him fresh souls. The movement begins with death-knells tolling for humans who are about to die; Mercury picks up these souls and leads them down to the gates of the Underworld.The third and final movement (Messenger of Olympus) depicts Mercury as he is busily running errands for various gods and goddesses. We first encounter him mid-flight as he dashes to earth to find Aeneas, a Trojan lieutenant who had been run out of Troy by the invading Greeks. Aeneas is on a quest to find land on which to establish a new city that would eventually become Rome. While traveling, he is distracted from his quest when he meets the beautiful queen Dido. They live together for many years before Mercury intervenes; he chastises Aeneas for giving up on his quest and persuades him to pick it up again. As Aeneas mournfully resumes his journey, we hear Dido perish of a broken heart. Mercury then takes to the skies to seek out Perseus, who is preparing to kill Medusa, the hideous gorgon who has snakes for hair and a gaze that turns those who catch her glance into stone. Mercury advises Perseus on how to slay Medusa and lends Perseus his sword to do the deed. We hear Perseus victorious in the beheading of Medusa, after which Mercury takes to the skies once more to fly home to Olympus.

SKU: HL.4008610

ISBN 9798350112597. UPC: 196288183204.

Nico Samitz has been composing for chamber ensembles since his school days. For over ten years he has been writing works in a wide variety of genres for the “BlechReiz BrassQuintett” ensemble, in which he himself plays trumpet and piano. His field of expertise ranges from classical pieces to jazz and meditative music—and even to pop-oriented compositions. While honing his skills in ear-training and composition at the Mozarteum, Salzburg, Nico became acquainted with a wide repertoire of works as a trumpet player with the Munich Symphony Orchestra, The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Bavarian State Opera, all of which have influenced his writing style. The driving force behind his creative work is a winning combination of passion, the fun of music-making and a desire to express, through the medium of music, feelings that are difficult to put into words. Like many of his works, Nico composedThe Joy of Freedom for the “BlechReiz BrassQuintet”. The catchy tune is reworked in a variety of styles throughout the entire work, giving it the quality of a true 'earworm'.

SKU: FG.55011-432-6

ISBN 9790550114326.

According to the composer, the sonata for alto saxophone and piano, which he regards as his first mature composition, takes its title from the astronomical term referring to the spacetime boundary in a black hole beyond which light can no longer escape - a point of no return. Event Horizons is an intensely emotional piece, stemming from reflections on the immensity of the universe and one's own place in it. The title was merely a catalyst, an image that sparked the creative process. Whittall was also greatly affected by the spaciousness and subtle intricacies of Eastern music - the gamelan music of Bali in particularly.

Much of the resulting music is reminiscent of the ringing of bells or gongs, which in so many cultures has great ceremonial and spiritual importance. They can be seen as a symbol of connection between the natural and meta-physical worlds. At its core, Event Horizons is an intense rite of passage, a quest for ultimate understanding, and perhaps reaches it, at least in part.

SKU: FL.FX071918

The wind carries away the yellow leaves fallen on the pavement, the cafes put tables and chairs in... I evoke here a fall tour that is difficult to do quietly in Paris. How to take your time in this city with so many streets to cross (musical phrases of 3 measures), cars or buses to avoid (musical phrases starts on the second time). While the chestnut vendors are on subway entrances, how not to hurry like others (theme B) to 'catch' the subway...

SKU: FL.FX074212

Who does not have a little nostalgic air in their head when they think of their last vacation in Italy? And who says Italy says Tarantella! - Pascal PROUST ; A piece to be played from 5 years of practice. ; Instruments: 1 Alto Saxophone 1 Piano; Difficuly Level: Grade 3; Duration: 3 mns; Musical Style: Classical, Educational; Category: Original Composition; Composer: Pascal PROUST.

SKU: BT.PL2335