Divertissement Espagnol
At its premiere in Boston’s Copley Hall on January 29, 1901, Charles Loeffler’s Divertissement Espagnol was met with so much enthusiasm that the orchestra played the piece twice and the Orchestral Club of Boston reprised it just one year later. Part of a collection of works commissioned by saxophonist Elise Hall in the early 20th century, Divertissement Espagnol has unfortunately not enjoyed the same longevity as other works from the collection by composers such as Debussy, Schmitt, and D’Indy.
As part of my DMA thesis project, I had the opportunity to work from the original manuscript to create a new, chamber setting of the work for saxophone and piano. Through this arrangement, more saxophonists will have the chance to perform this colorful, expressive piece. The arrangement can be purchased through Murphy Music Press.
Intermezzo Sinfonico
from Cavalleria Rusticana
Cavalleria Rusticana, Pietro Mascagni's first and most popular opera, was written as an entry in a competition for young Italian composers and was awarded first prize after its enormously successful 1890 premiere in Rome. Despite the lack of appreciation for Mascagni's subsequent works, Cavalleria Rusticana has since seen countless performances. In addition to the popularity of the opera as a whole, one three-minute component of the work, the Intermezzo Sinfonico, has become a standard piece in the orchestral repertoire, lauded for its graceful and transparent beauty.
The Intermezzo has seen quite a few adaptations over time, and as a saxophonist, I am excited to contribute my arrangement for Saxophone Octet, an ensemble whose inherent expressive qualities will create many more memorable performances of this elegant work. The arrangement can be purchased through RC Editions.
Deux Arabesques
Deux Arabesques is one of Claude Debussy's earlier works and also one of his most well-known, often referred to as an early example of the impressionist style in music. Originally for piano, these two short pieces lend themselves beautifully to a saxophone quartet setting, and on a personal note, they are a lot of fun to play. This arrangement can be purchased through RC Editions.