Concertino for Soprano Saxophone & String Ensemble, Op. 16

As an experiment, I wanted to compose a piece for soprano saxophone, as my friend plays the instrument.

It begins in a drifting, dream-like state with the strings providing a variety of colors. From the conclusion of the dream-state, an idea in the saxophone is presented. In a story type manner, this faster theme is progressed until it devolves back into the dense strings again with the initial iota being reiterated. This becomes an intense outburst at full volume until it ends quietly. The music begins again, replicating the three-movements of a concerto on a miniature scale, reintroducing previous themes. The music ends with a repetition of the intense contrary theme, re-notated from before.

Let me know what you think!

Also, I finally re-organized all my music, so I have proper opus numbers now.

Superb. Well, it's pretty demanding. You cover the whole compass of the instrument. I liked the kind-of moodiness of the slower sections, the opening and the Adagietto. Also liked rhythmic outbursts around bar 77. (Also some parts of the Allegro section.) Hard to comment otherwise. The material is well developed; a good balance between soloist and ensemble. You're obviously au fait with string writing. (Noticed that you expect the double basses to have an E string extension).

I wish your friend well if it's performed.  It's going to give the strings a bit of a workout too!

On 1/6/2019 at 12:54 PM, Quinn said:

Superb. Well, it's pretty demanding. You cover the whole compass of the instrument. I liked the kind-of moodiness of the slower sections, the opening and the Adagietto. Also liked rhythmic outbursts around bar 77. (Also some parts of the Allegro section.) Hard to comment otherwise. The material is well developed; a good balance between soloist and ensemble. You're obviously au fait with string writing. (Noticed that you expect the double basses to have an E string extension).

I wish your friend well if it's performed.  It's going to give the strings a bit of a workout too!

 

I very much appreciate your feedback, it means a lot! The fate of this piece's performance is rather uncertain, but it was a fun experiment into the form, anyway.