CD Recordings

Run, Sing, Fly

The celebrated and eminent saxophonist Sarah Markham performs a collection of music for saxophone which covers an expanse of musical eras, genres, and countries.

• In Takashi Yoshimatsu’s Fuzzy Bird Sonata the saxophone depicts a bird running, singing, and flying.
• Paule Maurice’s Tableau de Provence gives insight into the countryside of the Provence region of France.
• We hear the distinctive flavours of Spain, Russia, France, Hungary, and Paris in Pierre Max Dubois’s Pieces Caractéristiques En Forme de Suite.
• A new Sonata by James Rae features cirrus clouds and the Eurostar (world premiere recording) .
• Richard Rodney Bennett’s Three Piece Suite presents a melancholic samba, a homage to Scott Joplin, and funk inspired fugal finale.
• To finish, a performance of Debussy’s Syrinx.

With pianist Paul Turner, Sarah Markham takes you on a journey that invokes dance, serenade, mourning, fluffy clouds on a summer day, beautiful countryside and birds, as well as “run, sing, fly”.

Simply Four Saxophones

EMI Classics introduction to the world of saxophone. Celebrating the invention of the saxophone by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, the Adelphi Saxophone Quartet perform a mixture of classic French works and arrangements – from Baroque to Gershwin.

Track List:

• Rigaudon de Dardaus (arr. for saxophone quartet by G. Corroyez) – Jean-Philippe Rameau
• Petit Quatour pour saxophones – Françaix
• Petites Litanies de Jésus (arr. for saxophone quartet by Andrew Wilson) – Gabriel Grovlez
• Histoire du Tango (arr. for saxophone quartet by Claude Boirpy) – Astor Piazzolla
• The Poacher (arr. for saxophone quartet by Gordon Lewin) – Traditional
• Six Rumanian Folk Dances (arr. for saxophone quartet by. Andrew Wilson) – Bela Bartok
• Grave et Presto – Rivier
• The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. for saxophone quartet by John Robert Brown) – George Frederic Handel
• Air on a G string (from Orchestral Suite No. 3) (arr. for saxophone quartet by Martin Kerrigan) – Johann Sebastian Bach
• Old Hungarian Dances – Farkas
• The Agincourt Song (arr. for saxophone quartet by Paul Harvey) – Traditional
• Fascinatin’ / I Got Rhythm (arr. for saxophone quartet by Andrew Wilson) – George Gershwin

Artists:
Sarah Markham: soprano saxophone
Andrew Wilson: alto saxophone
Martin Kerrigan: tenor saxophone
Alex Mitchell: baritone saxophone

Nine Pieces for Five Players

The Quirk saxophone quartet with Richard Ingham.

Nine Pieces for Five Players by renowned composer and saxophonist Richard Ingham was originally commissioned and written for the Plume Quintet. The original wind quintet version was later rewritten as a saxophone quintet for the Quirk saxophone quartet, becoming a standard SATB quartet with additional soprano. Five of the movements highlight each of the players in turn.

Track List:

• 1 (1.26) An insistent, relentless tutti movement concludes with a more relaxed melodic coda.
• 2 (2.31) This soprano feature opens with a free solo introduction. After a duo interruption the soprano leaps into a soaring melody over an undulating accompaniment. The duo reappears briefly and the movement closes.
• 3 (2.27) A period jazz piece, exploiting the timbres and range of the alto. A lilting and occasionally provocative accompaniment from the others.
• 4 (1.29) A simple bossa nova groove with tunes.
• 5 (1.34) This funky baritone feature is a virtuosic tour de force. Some punchy backings complete the package.
• 6 (2.50) This time the tenor is highlighted in a sultry ballad with lightest of accompaniments. A brief atmospheric outro and it’s over.
• 7 (5.54) Sunset at the West Sands is an abstract soundscape, conjuring up an evening on the West Sands, St Andrews. Slow moving chords meet each other and separate, before a surprising tune appears from the depths. Some slightly disturbing disintegration before abstract chords close the piece.
• 8 (1.38) Kingsbarns Reel features the soprano in a reel with Shetland swing. Ceilidh band unisons appear, Irish pipes are heard under the inventive and driving jazz solo, then a mad scamper finish leads into…
• 9 (1.40) The finale is a light-hearted take on wind chamber music, combined with a hoe-down. Complete breakdown in the middle then flourish and out.

Joseph Horovitz – The Essential Collection

A complete collection of clarinet chamber music by composer Joseph Horovitz. This CD was recorded in the presence of the composer, and includes several world premiere recordings with programme notes written by Joseph Horovitz himself.

Performing artists include: Victoria Samek on clarinet and saxophone with duo partner Michael Bell, the Bingham String Quartet and ReedPlay.

Track List:

• Sonatina
• Arabesque
• Two Majorcan Pieces
• Concertante Op.1
• Concertino
• Diversions on a Familiar Theme
• Variations on a Theme of Paganini
• Jazz Suite