Solo Saxophone Serenade

A lockdown Recital
Presented by Dean Garrity, Saxophone (BMus 3)

PROGRAMME

COLTRANE for Soprano Saxophone

David Heath (1981)

CAPRICE EN FORME DE VALSE solo pour saxophone

Paul Bonneau (1950)

MAI pour Saxophone Alto seul

Ryo Noda (1975)
David Heath is a British composer born in Manchester in 1956. After studying flute at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Heath, having a keen interest in contemporary and
jazz music, began writing new compositions for friends. A lot of Heath’s writing centralises
around modern jazz harmony and rhythmic structure but expresses this in a ‘classical’ music
setting. Coltrane was originally a solo flute piece written for the flutist James Galloway in
1981. The piece acts as a musical dedication to the world famous saxophonist John Coltane.
The piece is split in two halves; the first being influenced by blues music and Coltrane’s
improvisations and the second half entirely influenced by North Indian music. When writing
this piece, Heath imagined it to be performed at the top of a Tibetan mountain surrounded
by mist.

Caprice en forme de Valse was Paul Bonneau’s last piece for saxophone written in 1950.
Having a varied compositional career, Bonneau composed music for film scores, operas, and
4 saxophone works all dedicated to friend and saxophonist Marcel Mule. These were
composed for Mule as a thanks to him helping Bonneau attain a place in the military band
during World War II. This waltz-inspired piece has lots of influence from jazz music at the
time and also showcases the virtuosic nature of the saxophone . Typically French in style,
the piece features lots of chromaticism and is technically demanding throughout. The
easy-listening waltz idea provides for enjoyable and cheeky moments.

Ryo Noda is a Japanese composer praised for his contemporary compositions and influence
on modern saxophone repertoire. Mai translates to the Battle of the Sea and the story
explores the troubling decisions made by a Japanese Samurai. The piece portrays the
torment within the Samurai’s mind due to making the choice to sacrifice his life in war over
the love of his wife. This is portrayed by using extended techniques such as multiphonics,
portamento, and pitch bending. As well as altissimo being used to reflect screaming. The
piece concludes with a ten second silence reflecting his death. It really is a great depiction
of a battle between love and war.

Please enjoy my recital and I thank you for taking the time to listen. Stay safe!