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Forums — Solo
Most challenging repertoire for fast playing
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Most challenging repertoire for fast playing
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 12:16 PM
Author: Larry Nelson
In your opinion, what is the most challenging saxophone music written with a very fast metronome marking or tempo indication? I remember playing Dubois' Tortoise and the Hare in my college days. And Bozza exercises were (I thought) meant to challenge one to play fast. But what other pieces are out there?
Comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:58 PM
Author: Andrew Janak
The Bozza Caprices challenge more than a student's mechanical ability, they are meant to offer a way to work on management of breathing and how to read contemporary music.
I think it is possible that you are looking for challenging music for the wrong reasons. A person can increase their technical ability as far as tempos through the simplest of excersises such as Les Gammes or Daily Studies by Kynaston. Just work on them each day and increase the tempos (comfortably).
Try to remember that technique also comes with muscle memory. Slow practice will make for faster results. As far as something rather challenging with a quick tempo, works such as the 3rd movement of the Albright Sonata (high tempo in the altissimo register) come to mind. But try not to look for these pieces for the wrong reasons...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:58 PM
Author: Larry Nelson
Thanks for your response. But I'm not trying to improve my technique! (I'm a college level jazz sax professor--not that it couldn't use some! :)). I'm asking for classical pieces that typically require a saxophonist to play extremely fast. I'm involved with a research project and have plenty of jazz examples (examples of fast soloing), but not too many from your realm.
Thanks again.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 11:13 PM
Author: Not Found
Most final movements of sonatas or concertos would probably provide you with lots of examples:
Sonata, Creston
Concerto, Creston
Concerto, Dahl
Tableaux de Provence, Maurice
Prelude, Cadence et Finale, Desenclos (the cadenza is pretty hairy, too)
Concertino da Camera, Ibert
... lots of others ...
Saturday, September 26, 2009 2:06 PM
Author: Shane Maddox
Off the top of my head, I'd include
Paul Bonneau: [I]Caprice en forme de valse[/I]
Lucie Robert: [I]Tourbillons[/I]
Jean Matitia (a.k.a. Christian Lauba): [I]Devil's Rag[/I] (for sax ensemble)
Michel Perrault: [I]Esquisse Québécoise[/I] [for sax quartet] (last movement)
Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:20 PM
Author: Andrew Janak
AH! See had I paid more attention I probably would have noticed the signature block.. I'll just take a mulligan on that one :-)
Some works that come to mind other than what was mentioned are:
Christian Lauba - Steady Study on the Boogie (pages 17-18 in particular)
Gotkovsky - Brilliance (4th mvmt)
Tower - Wings
Morosco - Blue Caprice
Sunday, September 27, 2009 4:56 PM
Author: Larry Nelson
Thanks for all of the suggestions/listings, everyone. I'll be checking these pieces out!
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