C. Alan Publications Sapphire - McMichael - Alto Saxophone/Piano - Book

Composer: Catherine McMichael
Format: Book
Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone/Piano
Level: Medium

Cast in one movement, this virtuosic concert work for alto saxophone and band is appealing to all audiences. Sapphire begins with a fast opening followed by a meditative ballad. The dramatic finale is a lively salsa culminating in a noisy, celebratory climax.

Program Notes:
Sapphire is a one-movement concerto for alto saxophone and concert band or wind ensemble, commissioned by Mr. Lynn Klock, Professor of Saxophone at the University of Massachussetts at Amherst. It consists of three connected sections: the fast opening section is full of energy and edgy intensity; the second is a meditative ballad in improvisatory style, linked by a cadenza to the third section, which is a lively salsa, giving the percussion section a real workout. The themes of all the sections are reunited in the coda of the piece, as it culminates in a long trill by the solo saxophone, with instruments gradually added for a noisy, celebratory climax. The piece was composed entirely during the month of September 2000, and the title Sapphire refers to September's birthstone.

Duration: 11:30