SKU: AP.1-ADV7674

ISBN 9783892217350. UPC: 805095076745. English.

This suite was inspired most notably by the saxophone quartets of Phil Woods and was written in a conscious attempt to wed certain stylistic elements of classical and jazz music. The players are not asked to improvise, but the piece does feature sections that sound spontaneous and freely created. The piece is difficult, but no more so than other quartets, like Glazunov and Desenclos, that are standard repertoire for this instrumentation. Talented high school and all college groups will find success working on this piece. The first movement, subtitled Danse Macabre, is ominous, dark, sometimes bluesy, and is propelled along by the use of intricate counterpoint and an improvised sounding solo section for the tenor saxophone.

SKU: HL.48024645

ISBN 9781784544034. UPC: 888680949099.

In 1989 when Louis Andriessen was teaching at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Miles Davis Autobiography was published.While reading it, he suddenly knew what the subject of his piece for the Kronos Quartet should be - early be-bop licks and especially the work of Charlie Parker. He wanted to do the impossible - be-bop is not at all idiomatic for string instruments. But be-bop had been an important influence on his musical development when he was young, and he decided to do something with this music from his youth. Basically the essence of Charlie Parkers playing is the extremely fast tempo. This fast tempo is really fast, because the playing is based upon the chord structure of existing melodies which are sometimes played two or three times as fast as normal. Parker needed speed to express what he musically felt: little time was left for him. This is the main explanation of the title of the work.In the beginning of Facing Death, Andriessen literally quotes fragments of Charlie Parker improvisations. He also quotes one original melody: Ornithology (which is based on How High the Moon). The 7th and 8th bars of Ornithology become an important motif inthe piece. The whole composition is one long development in Parker's fast tempo. This work was composed in 1990 for string quartet and later arranged for saxophone quartet.

SKU: AP.1-ADV7621

UPC: 805095076219. English.

Writing these arrangements, Frank Reinshagen has created little masterpieces, which broaden the rhythmical and harmonic context of the original tunes in an interesting manner without detracting from their archaic and melancholic character. These original tunes are---in a direct or wider sense---of Celtic origin, in other words, they have been borrowed from the Irish, Scottish and Gaelic musical tradition. These through-composed arrangements are rather easy to perform from the rhythmical and technical point of view. Yet, they are quite demanding in respect of the key they are written in, their intonation and, especially, their interpretation. Their different instrumentations are fully compatible with each other and, due to their overall structure, they are also suitable to be played with multi-scored parts.

Annotation on Aignish on the Machair. The arrangement of Aignish on the Machair illustrates, above all, the melancholic character inherent in the harmonies of the original tune. A short rubato passage is followed by several variations over the flowing melody in 3/4- time. The short triplet passages embedded in these variations are quite demanding from the technical point of view; considering the key they are written in, however, these passages are not too difficult to play.

SKU: AP.1-ADV7614

UPC: 805095076141. English.

What is probably Albéniz' most famous piece, Tango Andaluz, has been transcribed for many different instrument combinations. In this unique arrangement, from the repertoire of the Berlin Saxophone Quartet, all four saxophones get a chance to shine.

SKU: AP.1-ADV7623

UPC: 805095076233. English. Traditional.

Writing these arrangements, Frank Reinshagen has created little masterpieces, which broaden the rhythmical and harmonic context of the original tunes in an interesting manner without detracting from their archaic and melancholic character. These original tunes have been borrowed from the Irish, Scottish, and Gaelic musical tradition. These through-composed arrangements are rather easy to perform from the rhythmical and technical point of view. Yet, they are quite demanding in respect of the key they are written in, their intonation and, especially, their interpretation. Their different instrumentations are fully compatible with each other and, due to their overall structure, they are also suitable to be played with multi-scored parts. The original of The Sons of Liberty is of a more recent date and goes back to the time when the King of England forced the Irish farmers' sons to go to war in America against their own fellow countrymen who were striving for freedom there. The arrangement conveys the impression of a vigorous forward motion created by a recurring and changing riff. Although it is written in a somewhat more difficult key (E minor), it is not too exacting from the technical point of view.

SKU: AP.1-ADV7607

UPC: 805095076073. English.

The Latin-influenced piece consists of the theme (ABC), interlude, soprano and tenor saxophone solos, interlude, theme, a coda featuring the soprano, and culminates with the final cadenza. The soloists may either improvise or play the notated transcriptions. Solo sections may be opened up for additional choruses.

Heiner Wiberny wrote this melodious and rhythmically spirited compositon for his son Julian. The Latin-Influenced piece was inspired by his collaboration as multiinstrumentalist with the WDR Big Band in Cologne during productions with Paquito D'Rivera, Bob Mintzer and Andy Narell. The piece consists of the theme (ABC), interlude, soprano and tenor saxophone solos, interlude, theme, a coda featuring the soprano, and culminates with the final cadenza. The soloists my either improvise or play the notated transcriptions of the composer. Solo sections may be opened up for additional choruses. A substitute alto part is printed on the back of the soprano.