Work
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
for alto saxophone and orchestra
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About
The Concerto was written in January 2006 as fulfilment of a long standing promise to write a piece for saxophonist Simon Brew. What began, in concept, as a modest "concertino" grew into a five movement "grand" concerto of nearly 30 minutes, which makes it, according to Simon, one of the longer concertos in the Alto Saxophone repertoire; I'm still not quite sure how it happened, it just kept on growing.
The Concerto was commissioned by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, is dedicated to Simon, and was premiered in May 2006. The first two movements, including some revisions, were later presented at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings on 6 November 2006.
The first movement is an accompanied cadenza for the saxophone which outlines the major thematic material for the concerto. This movement reoccurs, in modified form, as the central episode of the last movement. The second movement is in traditional concerto sonata form. The Concerto unashamedly follows classical structures throughout. Avant-garde it ain't!
Commissioned note
Commissioned by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, written for saxophonist Simon Brew.
Contents note
Five movements:
1. Moderato
2. Allegro
3. Andante
4. Lento
5. Allegro Vivace
Performance history
25 Jun 2006: Performed by Wellington Youth Sinfonietta with Simon Brew (alto saxophone) conducted by Michael Vinten at St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington
06 Nov 2006: Performed in a rehearsed reading by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich as part of the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings
01 Apr 2007: Wellington Chamber Orchestra: Vinten