Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
Lee Actor
About this work:
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra is a work in three movements with a total duration of about 22 minutes. It is scored for a classical-sized orchestra: double woodwinds, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, percussion, and strings.
The existing solo saxophone literature is modest in size when compared to that of instruments such as the piano or violin, and generally tends to emphasize jazz-inflected or the lighter, popular stylistic elements often associated with the instrument. One of my goals in writing this piece was to exploit the considerable dramatic and expressive possibilities of the saxophone. I wanted to treat it as a serious solo instrument playing a serious concerto, in much the same way that instruments more commonly found playing in front of a symphony orchestra are treated. The result is a piece that expresses a full range of emotions, from intensely dramatic to poignantly lyrical to slyly humorous to triumphantly joyful.
The first movement, marked Andante appassionato, begins with an intense, declamatory statement in the high cellos accompanied by a counterpoint in the low violas, over a pedal G in the timpani and basses. This builds to a brief climax, which quickly fades away to silence and ushers in the first entrance of the solo saxophone, without accompaniment. The saxophone muses on the previous material in a cadenza-like passage, as the pace quickens to Allegro moderato and the orchestra rejoins the discussion. An area of stability is finally established in which the solo saxophone presents a transformation of the urgent opening theme into a more relaxed, thoughtful melody, accompanied by undulating upper strings and a pizzicato walking bass in the lower strings. This idea is explored and leads to a further quickening of the pace marked Piú allegro, and a new theme with a quirky, extroverted gypsy-like character. The material develops, and after a rousing climax things quiet down and elements from the previous section reappear, transitioning to a cadenza for the solo saxophone accompanied by long held notes in the lower strings. The cadenza recalls the mood and material from the beginning of the movement, and eventually leads to a literal restatement of the opening material, which detours to a brief and quiet coda.
The second movement, Adagio, begins with the saxophone playing a lonely solo; the mental image I had in mind while writing this music was of a saxophonist playing all alone at night under the light of a single streetlamp. This becomes a wistful, yearning melody accompanied by pulsating strings. The melody is passed among various sections of the orchestra as the solo saxophone plays increasingly elaborate figurations, leading to a brief but intense climax. The orchestra dies away, leaving the solo saxophone alone once again, and the main theme is reprised in its simplest form. An echo from the opening bars is heard and the movement ends quietly, similar to the ending of the first movement.
The finale, Allegro molto, is colorful and full of energy and high spirits. In structure, it is closer to sonata form than the first two movements. The vigorous first theme is marked by the relentless presence of triplet rhythms in both the theme and accompaniment. The second theme is impish in character and brings to mind the gypsy-like melody from the first movement. The music builds steadily, leading to a section that is transitional and developmental in character. Soon another new theme is introduced, based on a motif from the opening movement. This leads directly to a reprise of the material from the beginning of the movement, though nothing is quite the same as before; unexpected turns and harmonic surprises abound. A brief coda ends the movement with a flourish.
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra was commissioned by the Mission Chamber Orchestra, and was written between March and November 2009. The concerto is dedicated to saxophonist Ashu.
Year composed: 2009
Duration: 00:21:30
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Orchestra with Soloist(s)
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, ,1 Alto Saxophone soloist(s), 2 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 1 Timpani, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Strings (General)