Non-avant garde saxophone concerto

[Daevren]

Does anyone know of a composer that wrote one?

Like in a neo-classical style or tonal modern? I know Glass wrote one but I don't like him.

[Bob]

The saxophone is still a baby. Aw....

But it was born after a lot of the music was written.


You can always arrange another piece for saxophone.  (hand to mouth in schock)  I know, I know.  It's not a very "pianistic" thing to do, but if the music you want doesn't exist, you can borrow it from another instrument.

I've heard the saxophone is the closest instrument to the voice.  Gliere wrote a concerto for coloratura voice.  It might work for the saxophone.

[JCarey]

Didn't Debussy write a saxophone concerto?

[Barbosa-piano]

 Of classical music, I would suggest the Saxophone Concerto in E flat major, Op. 109 by Glazunov. Also, Debussy's Rhapsodie for alto saxophone and orchestra (or piano) L. 98 is a good one...
Fantasia for saxophone & piano, A. 490bis by Villa-Lobos, is one of my favorites for the saxophone. Those are all great pieces, but is a shame that such a beautiful sounding instrument has not been exploited as we would expect (in late classical music). One of the movements in Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, has a long passage where the saxophone plays a major role, being followed by the orchestra. I was speechless when I first heard this passage.
I wish you luck on your search, and I hope this was helpful.

Sincerely,
Mario Barbosa 

[tariswerewolf]

In recent years, I wrote a rather tonal concerto for soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra.

[Daevren]

Whoa, I don't play sax and I am not on some big search. I just wondered because it is such a big solo instrument in jazz. And compared to a trumpet it sounds so much better.

I may become a 'real' composer and I also think its a shame this instrument hasn't got the classical repetoire it deserves. So maybe I may write a concerto for sax someday.

I just wanted to know what is out there. Thanks, I will take a look at the suggestions.


And about the sax being the most like the human voice; In indian music imitating the human voice is huge. They say the sarangi is the closest to the human voice. It is an amazing instrument, three gut strings and 29 metal symphatic strings. Of course in comparison the sax loses because microtones aren't possible. (right? Or is there a way around?) The sax uses western tempered system. I could add a sound file later.



 

[odsum25]

Glazunov Concerto, Milhaud Scaramouche, Ingolf Dahl's Concerto, Ibert Concertino de Camera, Debussy Rhapsody, Villa-Lobos Fantasia, Creston Concerto,Maurice's Tableaux de Provence, Bolcom Concert Suite. That's all I can think of at the moment.

[ravel]

nice to know some one in the piano forum knows  about the instrument sarangi.