University of Melbourne, Faculty of Music, Masters Examination A BARITONE SAXOPHONE RECITAL IAN GODFREY baritone saxophone with associate artists JULIE HASKELL piano TIM DAVIES percussion LACHLAN DAVIDSON alto saxophone THE MELBOURNE SAXOPHONE QUARTET Tan Godfrey Mark Franklin Sally McDonald Lachlan Davidson MELBA HALL Faculty of Music The University of Melbourne 11 June 1997 - 1tamThe Baritone Saxophone The saxophone family was conceived by Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s and patented on March 21st 1846. The first public performance which included a saxophone was on February 3rd 1844. Berlioz arranged a concert at the Salle Hers and featured a sextet of Sax's instruments, three brass and three woodwinds, Sax himself playing the lower part on the newly constructed saxophone. Berlioz had arranged his Chant Sacre, an early choral work, to show off the instruments, each playing an extended cadenza in turn. There is considerable debate as to whether Sax was performing on a bass saxophone in C or a baritone in Eb. Unfortunately only fragments of the original score survive so we may never know. No record exists of the bass saxophone with the downward pointing bell ever having been manufactured, so I believe the baritone of the modern shape was the one most likely to have been created first. Part of the original 1846 patent sketch by Adolphe SaxT. Spiewak 1937- Scherzetto (baritone saxophone & piano) This short piece is one of two written in 1987, specifically for the first VCE Prescribed List of Works for Solo Performance, by Australian composer and pianist Thomasz Spiewak. For the first time a seperate, syllabus had been created for the baritone saxophone and I felt it was very important that original Australian works were included. Since writing Scherzetto and Walking dance ‘Thomasz Spiewak has completed many other works for wind, piano and percussion, some of which have been included in the AMEB syllabus. This piece is rather playful with a slightly grotesque trio to provide colour and contrast. Trio (baritone, alto saxophones & piano) In 1991 Thomasz Spiewak wrote this Trio for the late Dr. Peter Clinch and myself, and it was first performed in the same year with the composer at the piano. It is a large scale work in two sections exploring many elements of popular music and jazz. It contains funky ostinatos and sections of 12 bar blues interplaying with more atmospheric elements, in a way that was intended to be more appealing to audiences than much of today's contemporary music. J. Singelee 1812-1875 Premier Quatour Op 53 (saxophone quartet) I Andante Allegro An accomplished violinist, composer and conductor in his native Belgium, Jean Baptiste Singelee is credited with writing this piece, the first saxophone quartet in 1857. He also wrote 27 other saxophone works including five for the baritone. This quartet is conceived in four movements each of which pays homage to a renowned composer of the time, Rossini, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Meyerbeer respectively. Only sections of the original score exist today, and a number of reconstructions have been attempted. We will be playing the first movement andante et allegro as reconstructed by the French saxophonist E. A. Lefebre at the turn of the century. The andante is in the style of a short recitative, followed by a brilliant allegro.T. Davies 1972- Krunch (saxophone quartet) Tim Davies is currently completing his Masters Degree in Composition at The University of Melbourne. Prolific in output, he has performances in the near future by Faculty Ensembles including the Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Big Band. Krunch was written in 1996 for the Melbourne Saxophone Quartet and premiered at the Faculty of Music in the same year. The inspiration for the piece came from a trombone voicing on a Buddy Rich Big Band recording. This voicing has been developed into a work of great complexity utilising predominantly Jazz rhythms. It is completely notated with carefully written articulations, dynamics and rhythmic groupings. N. Rimsky Korsakov 1844-1908 trans. M. Mule Le Vol du Burdon (saxophone quartet) In the early days of the Marcel Mule quartet, original repertoire was rather scarce, so Mule prepared a number of transcriptions by well known composers. The Flight of the Bumble Bee is one of the most successful of these and has become a permanent part of our Tepertoire, though somewhat changed to suit the personality of our quartet.The Melbourne Saxophone Quartet Australia's leading saxophone quartet, the Melbourne Saxophone Quartet is committed to excellence. It is the aim of the quartet to always include Australian music in its programs. This not only Promotes an awareness of excellent Australian music but also encourages new and established composers to write for this exciting instrumental group. In previous years the ensemble has toured Australia and overseas, including the USA, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Shortly there is to be a broadcast on ABC Classic FM and a European tour. The members arc Lachlan Davidson, Sally McDonald, Mark Franklin and Ian Godfrey. I would particularly like to thank the following people for their support and assistance in creating this recital. My family: Lorraine Tom Thea Peter Clinch Lachlan Davidson Mark Franklin Sally McDonald Thomasz Spiewak Julie Haskell Tim Davies Ros McMillan