Composer:
William Schmidt
Instrumentation:
Saxophone and Piano
Duration:
16:30
Difficulty:
Difficult: approx diploma/professional
Publisher:
Western International Music
Date:
1979
Programme notes:
I. Lyrical (5:12) II. Improvisatorial (5:24) III. Rhythmic (5:37)
Schmidt’s Sonata features frequent meter changes and no altissimo throughout the three movements, which are fast-slow-fast. The first movement builds speed through rhythmic values, as the saxophone starts primarily with half and whole notes and near the end of the piece primarily plays running eighths. The second movement features passages of metrical structure and passages of free time. The third movement features more rhythmic diversity among the meter changes.
Performance notes:
For James Houlik
Discography:
Art of the Tenor Saxophone: Music of William Schmidt - Roger Greenberg (WIMCD 2001)