About Music – The Art of Listening with Brian – Programme 113.

The Saxophone in the Concert Hall

The saxophone is one of the youngest members of the woodwind family. Invented in the 1840s by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax, it combines the single reed mouthpiece of the clarinet with the brass body of a trumpet. This hybrid design gives the saxophone its unique timbre — bright yet mellow, capable of both singing warmth and commanding brilliance.

Today’s programme traces the saxophone’s entry into the concert hall — from Glazunov’s Romantic warmth to Ibert’s sparkling wit, to Creston’s rhythmic vitality. Each composer found in the instrument a voice both noble and playful, at once classical and modern.
The saxophone has inspired some striking works in the concert repertoire. Today we hear three of the most important.

Alexander Glazunov – Concerto in E-flat major for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra, Op. 109 (1934)
Jacques Ibert – Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (1935)
Paul Creston – Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Op. 26 (1941) Alexander Glazunov – Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra in E flat major, Op.109 Performed by Václav Smetáček and the Symfonický orchestr hl. m. Prahy FOK · Jacques Ibert – Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Performed by Branford Marsalis with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra · Jacques Ibert – Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Performed by Branford Marsalis with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra · Jacques Ibert – Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Performed by Branford Marsalis with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra · Paul Creston – Saxophone Concerto, Op. 26 Performed by Claude Delangle with the Swedish Wind Ensemble conducted by Christian Lindberg · Paul Creston – Saxophone Concerto, Op. 26 Performed by Claude Delangle with the Swedish Wind Ensemble conducted by Christian Lindberg · Paul Creston – Saxophone Concerto, Op. 26 Performed by Claude Delangle with the Swedish Wind Ensemble conducted by Christian Lindberg · Heitor Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 Performed by Branford Marsalis and the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton

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