saxophone solos of Sy Brandon
Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Piano - Concertino was composed during 2009 at the request of Dr. Andy Wen and premiered by him at the Region 4 NASA Conference in April 2011. This piano reduction of the band parts was completed in 2011. The work is in three movements. Advanced
$15.00
Conversations for Alto Saxophone and Piano - This work was composed for David and Dorinne Bilger. It was first recorded by the Bilger Duo on their album The Bilger Duo Plays Recital Favorites. As the title implies, this composition is a dialogue between the two instruments, first tender and intimate and then more animated. A return to intimacy returns in the middle with new material and at the end with a recapitulation of the opening ideas. It was recorded again on compact disc by the Swiss Duo Dilemme in 1996 and has been re-released in 2000 on the AUR label as part of their Millenium Tribute to Adolphe Sax series. Advanced
$10.00
Fantasie Variations on Mazurek Dabrowskiego - “Fantasie Variation on Mazurek Dabrowskiego” was commissioned in 2010 by David Wozniak. Wozniak suggested using the Polish National Anthem as the basis of a composition that can serve as a fiery opener to a concert. This composition is recorded by David Wozniak and Krista Wallace-Boaz on the Emeritus label American Fusion CD. Advanced
$10.00
High Desert Apparitions for Soprano Saxophone and Piano -
High Desert Apparitions is inspired by the beautiful and mystical lands and traditions of the Native American people of Northern Arizona. It consists of three movements. I. Shape Shifters (Skinwalkers or yee naaldlooshii) are evil creatures that appear as humans or as animals. This movement has the piano representing the human form and the saxophone representing coyotes, owls, foxes, and crows in that order. The human shape musically appears at the beginning and in between the animals. Multiphonics are used for some of the animal sounds. II. Mirages is at a soft dynamic throughout with a lot of sustained sounds. The saxophone sustained sounds begin and end without vibrato with slight vibrato or timbre trills used in the middle of the sustained sound. The intent is to musically represent a vision of water that appears to be evaporating. All mirages are fleeting and the rapid passages in both the saxophone and piano musically represent impermanence. III. Ancient Spirits is in two sections. The slower opening is atmospheric, evoking images of Native American flutes calling to the ancient spirits. The second section is chant-like and is influenced by recordings of Navajo Yeibichai songs. A Yeibichai is a supernatural represented by a masked dancer in an initiation or curative ceremony. The piano chords are dissonant and steady imitating the sound of drums. While the music is repetitive, there are subtle changes to the melodic material as well as the accompanying chords. Advanced
High Desert Apparitions is inspired by the beautiful and mystical lands and traditions of the Native American people of Northern Arizona. It consists of three movements. I. Shape Shifters (Skinwalkers or yee naaldlooshii) are evil creatures that appear as humans or as animals. This movement has the piano representing the human form and the saxophone representing coyotes, owls, foxes, and crows in that order. The human shape musically appears at the beginning and in between the animals. Multiphonics are used for some of the animal sounds. II. Mirages is at a soft dynamic throughout with a lot of sustained sounds. The saxophone sustained sounds begin and end without vibrato with slight vibrato or timbre trills used in the middle of the sustained sound. The intent is to musically represent a vision of water that appears to be evaporating. All mirages are fleeting and the rapid passages in both the saxophone and piano musically represent impermanence. III. Ancient Spirits is in two sections. The slower opening is atmospheric, evoking images of Native American flutes calling to the ancient spirits. The second section is chant-like and is influenced by recordings of Navajo Yeibichai songs. A Yeibichai is a supernatural represented by a masked dancer in an initiation or curative ceremony. The piano chords are dissonant and steady imitating the sound of drums. While the music is repetitive, there are subtle changes to the melodic material as well as the accompanying chords. Advanced
$10.00
Microcosms for Alto Saxophone and Piano - Microcosms for Alto Saxophone and Piano is an adaptation of a 1973 composition for saxophone alone called Micro Pieces. It is dedicated to Stacy Wilson. The main title reflects the brevity of the eight movements as well as the programmatic representation of small models of a larger concept. The movements are I. Nebulae II. Puck III. Apiary IV. Hiroshima V. Charlie Chaplin VI. Tempest VII. Four A.M. VIII. March of the Ants
Advanced
Advanced
$10.00
Mosaic for Sopranino Sax and Piano - The American Heritage Dictionary defines mosaic as a picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, such as tile, in mortar. The musical ideas in this composition are treated in a similar fashion. The small colored pieces can be compared to the musical motifs of the composition. Sometimes these fragments form a larger unit and become a recognizable melody. At other times, the fragments are combined differently therefore creating a variation to the original idea. Throughout the three-movement composition, this technique has been employed to create loose formal structures that still have unity and variety through the use of contrasting sections. The three movements themselves create contrast by being organized in a fast-slow-fast arrangement. The musical language is tonal with frequent shifts in the tonal center and with harmony in thirds and fourths. Advanced
$10.00
Nocturne from Divertissement - This is the second movement of six contrasting movements for a woodwind doubler that was composed for and premiered by Bret Pimentel. Each movement can stand alone as a solo piece or it can be played by a woodwind doubler as part of a suite. The Nocturne for alto saxophone and piano, being a night piece, is both lyrical and mysterious. Advanced Intermediate
$5.00
Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Piano - Rhapsody is subtitled Homage to Alec Wilder. The outer slow sections are lyrical with hints of jazz harmony. The lively middle section has jazz syncopations. Advanced
$10.00
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano - This work was composed for and premiered by Dariusz Samol at The Festival of New Music in Szamotuly, Poland in 2004. The American premiere was given by Joe Murphy at Mansfield University in 2005. The opening movement uses a rhythmic first theme followed by a lyrical second theme that has a jazz flavor over a walking bass line. The development section uses motives from the first theme only and the recapitulation states the themes in reverse order. The second movement alternates between a dramatic statement and a lyrical melody with lush harmony. The last movement is in a modified rondo form with a lot of rhythmic drive and chromaticism. Advanced
$15.00
Sonata "Funtasies" for Tenor Saxophone and Piano - This composition was composed for Jeffrey Kyle Hutchins, saxophone and EunHye Grace Choi, piano. It is in four movements. The first movement “Boisterous” is not in the classical sonata form, however, it does reflect sonata-like qualities with contrasting themes. It is very rhythmic and uses the interval of the fourth for its melodic and harmonic material. The second movement “Whimsical’ is in a moderate tempo with five beats per measure. It is very playful as it alternates diatonic with chromatic passages with outbursts of musical laughter. Movement 3 "Witty" is in a scherzo style. The melody and harmony are based on thirds but are not in any clear key because the thirds will freely vary between major and minor creating an atonal quality. Contrast between staccato and legato is another way the movement is witty. The last movement is called "Teasing" and is in a modified Rondo form ABACBA. The teasing occurs in many different ways. The first appearance is the way the movement seems to stop and start as if promising a longer line, but not delivering. In the B section, the left hand of the piano plays a syncopated idea consisting of wide intervals and frequent rests. The right hand inserts a jeering four-note motive. The saxophone plays a melodic idea centered around a descending minor third, the universal teasing chant interval. The C section is in 7/8 and acts as a chase scene, as if a game of tag is being played. The ending continues the teasing by avoiding a strong cadence with deceptive chords and melodic lines of vague tonality/modality. Advanced
$15.00