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Johann Sebastian Bach, a German Baroque-era composer, is one of the most well-known
and greatest composers in music history. He was a well-respected organist during his time,
though his compositions would not become popular until after his death. He wrote over 1000
works, from solo pieces for varying instruments to full orchestral works. Three of Bach's twenty
children, Johann Christian, Johann Christoph Friedrich and Carl Phillip Emanuel, became
noteworthy musicians and composers themselves.
Bach composed his Sonata in C Major (BWV 1033) for flute in 1731, although it is
argued that this piece was not completely written by Bach, if it all. It has been suggested that
Carl Phillip Emanuel either fully composed the piece, or that Bach had originally intended this
sonata to be unaccompanied and Carl Phillip Emanuel later composed the accompaniment. This
theory has been put forward due to the differences of the accompaniment lines between the
movements and the soloistic line of the flute in the first and second movements
Robert Schumann composed his Three Romances, Op. 94 in 1849 for oboe and piano,
and it is the only solo piece he ever composed for that instrument. A year later it was transcribed
for violin and clarinet, against Schumann's wishes. He composed this piece and gave it to his
wife, Clara Schumann, as a Christmas gift, and declared them his "hundredth opusculum." It
would not be publicly premiered until after Schumann's death, in 1863 by oboist Emilius Lund.
Shortly after its composition Robert and Clara would move from Dresden to Dusseldorf where
Schumann would be admitted into an asylum for psychotic melancholia. Nicht schnell has many
instances of rubato and changes of character which creates many melancholic moments
throughout the movement.
From Calais, France, composer Ida Gotkovsky studied under Olivier Messiaen and Nadia
Boulanger. Gotkovsky won multiple awards including the Prix Lily Boulanger, Prix Blumenthal,
and the Premier Prix du Referendum Pasdeloup. She has written for nearly every instrument and
has expressed her idea of music as "to create a universal musical art and to realize the oneness of
musical expression through the ages by means of a contemporary musical language with
powerful structures."
Brillance is a four movement piece written in a slow-fast-slow-fast form with many
contrasts of expression between movements. Dclam, as the name suggests, is written as a
declamation with the saxophone playing in a "quasi rcitativo" style and ending with a short
cadenza. Dsinvolte, "jaunty", is a humourous movement in a quick tempo with contrasting
sections of whimsical staccato notes and short, playful phrases consisting of long legato notes.
In Dolcissimo, the saxophone plays a sweet lyrical melody over top a rhythmic ostinato piano
line. Final begins with a resounding opening in the saxophone that leads into a feeling of
constant rapid motion between the saxophone and piano. After the cadenza, it calls back to the
second movement with a short humourous section before closing with a virtuosic ending.
Darius Milhaud was a prominent French modernist composer and a member of Les Six.
His style features strong influences from jazz and Brazillian music, while integrating
polytonality.
Scaramouche is generally thought to have been written as a duo piano work originally,
but the saxophone and orchestra version was written at the same time if not before, in 1937. The
saxophone and orchestra version was written for saxophonist Sigurd Rascher, however, since
Rascher left Europe because of the war, Milhaud arranged it for two pianos to fulfill a
commission from a piano duo. Scaramouche's three movements were taken from Milhaud's
incidental music of Bolivar and Le Mdecin volant. The title Scaramouche is taken from the
children's theatre: Thtre Scaramouche.
The first movement, Vif, is a quick bi-tonal movement that is light and playful and
includes the children's song "Ten Green Bottles," as the original music from Le Mdecin volant
was intended for a young audience. Modr, taken from the incidental music from Bolivar,
contrasts the outer two movements with a much more legato and melodic line in the saxophone
in a calm and graceful style. Brazileira, possibly the most popular of all three movements, is
inspired by the Brazilian instrumental Choro music. Choro music is characterized by virtuosity,
improvisation and fast, syncopated rhythms. A typical Choro ensemble includes flute, soprano
saxophone, a violo (six string guitar), and a cavaquinho (ukulele).
American composer Marc Mellits studied at the Eastman School of Music, Yale School
of Music, and Cornell University. His style combines driving rhythms, soaring lyricism and rock
influences into his minimalist compositions.
Revolution was originally titled String Quartet No.2: Revolution and later adapted for
saxophone quartet and renamed Revolution by arranger Johnathan Nichol. Revolution consists of
four movements, Groove Canon, Mara's Toys, December, 1989, and Groove Machine. Mellits
drew inspiration for Groove Canon and Groove Machine from old machinery (particularly
trains) he had seen in Romania, where he would spend a considerable amount of time each year.
December 1989 is a direct reference to the Romanian Revolution of Christmas in 1989, with the
melody being based on a patriotic communist song written for Nicolae Ceauescu, who was the
Romanian head of state in 1989.