For Soprano Saxophone and Piano accompaniment.'Peter Abelard was a medieval philosopher poet and musician born in France in 1079. He taught at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris lodging with Canon Fulbert whoadmired his work. In time he also became tutor to Fulbert's beautiful seventeen-yearoldniece Helo se.Abelard and Helo se began a passionate love affair (Dance of Peter and Helo se) which resulted in a son Astrolabe.For the sake of Abelard's position they married secretly and Canon Fulbert waspresent at their marriage. But Fulbert later reacted furiously to news that Abelard hadsent Helo se to a convent believing that hehad abandoned her in favour of his owncareer. In revenge he had Abelard castrated (Revenge of Canon Fulbert).After his mutilation Abelard became a monk and he and Helo se remained constantcorrespondents for theremainder of his life. He composed a hymnbook for Helo se who by then was Abbess of the convent of the Paraclete. Among the hymns was avisionary poem of the New Jerusalem set to a beautiful melody in the Dorian mode O QuantaQualia.On his death in 1142 his remains were taken to the Paraclete at Helo se's request andher body was later laid to rest in the same tomb. Finally their remains were taken toParis and in 1817 they were buriedtogether in one sepulchre (In Paradisum).Peter Abelard documented much of his own story in a number of writings includingthe Historia Calamitatum Mearum (The story of mytroubles).'             - James Whitbourn

Simply Sax is a collection of fantastic solos arranged for Tenor Saxophone in B Flat and Piano accompaniment by Keith Stent.

Par HUMMEL BERTOLD. The overall form of this work in one movement is in seven sections. A slow introduction begins with multiphonics of the saxophone and sounds of cymbals played with a double-bass bow. Vibraphone and marimbaphone provide the chordal foundation for a fanfare-like invocation by the saxophone. The atmosphere of the following Allegro is dominated by an ostinato series of notes taken from the chords of the introduction and played by the marimbaphone - over this, starting from a four-note series, the saxophone develops jazz-influenced figures. The constructional elements are worked into a cadenza-like section, followed by an arioso passage, leading over lightly-pulsating sounds to a final climax with a B-A-C-H (B flat - A - C - B) quotation in the saxophone. Once again, it continues with a cadenza-like section. Slap in the saxophone and stopped notes in the vibraphone and marimbaphone introduce new ideas and sonorities for discussion, the constructional elements are played off against each other in a loose sequence. At the end of this second cadenza, the B-A-C-H (B flat - A - C - B) quotation re-appears in the saxophone. A varied reprise of the first Allegro section leads to a concluding passage, taking up the atmosphere of the introduction, combined however with clear references to the four-note series of the Allegro. The interval of a third is heard and remains hovering in the air to the very end, closing the work in pianissimo./ Répertoire / Saxophone Soprano et Percussions