Description
Saxophone Quartet No. 1
1 4/4 Vivace
2 4/4 Andante Mysterioso
3 4/4 Scherzoso
4 4/4 Adagio Tranquillo
5 4/4 Andante, 12/16 Moderato
Saxophone Quartet No. 2
6 “From Darkness Into Light”: I. Black: Mysterioso Moderato
7 “From Darkness Into Light”: Il. Red: Moderato
8 “From Darkness Into Light”: lll. Blue: Andante Moderato
9 “From Darkness Into Light”: IV. Green: Moderato
10 “From Darkness Into Light”: V. Yellow: Allegro Moderato
11 “From Darkness Into Light”: Vl. White: Rubato
Saxophone Quartet No. 3
12 “Body Language”: Serena I
13 “Body Language”: I. Dance Of The Reeds – Serena II
14 “Body Language”: II. carnival
15 “Body Language”: Serena III
16 “Body Language”: III. Chasing Shadows
17 “Body Language”: Serena IV
18 “Body Language”: IV. Country Ayre
19 “Body Language”: Serena V
Saxophone Quartet No. 1 in five movements is in reality one piece, divided into five sections. There are recurring phrases throughout, distanced by pace and mood. All the saxophones are used as musical rhythm machines, with melodies and textures being taken in turn by individuals. Occasionally all four saxes combine with the same phrase, and then swoop apart like birds. Saxophone Quartet No. 2 from darkness into light is six movements based on different colours. From the primeval scream to the calm and peaceful finale with a chorale scored for the wonderful sound of four soprano saxes, sounding like female voices. Saxophone Quartet No. 3 body language is a continuous piece based on a series of dance motifs: from the mad latin of the second movement Carnival to the more traditional atmosphere of the fourth movement County Ayre. There are five bridges, entitled Serena I-V, linking the beginning and end of each of the four movements. Each Serena is calm and peaceful, and they are all variations on the same theme, breathing spaces between the movements.
About the Apollo Saxophone Quartet
Established at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1985, the Apollo Saxophone Quartet set out to develop an original repertoire from a wide variety of cultures and disciplines. By commissioning and performing new works by today’s leading composers, the group have firmly maintained their position at the forefront of contemporary performance, playing at major festivals and concert venues throughout Europe and Japan.
