PSQ
PSQ - Urban Requiem
Feb/14/10 08:58
The
PSQ has been rehearsing with the University of
Pacific Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Eric
Hammer perparing for our upcoming performance of
Michael Colgrass’ “Urban Requiem.”
It’s an amazing piece which is at once spell-binding, moving and fun at the same time.
"`Urban Requiem,' according to Michael Colgrass, `might be described as an urban tale, inspired by a diversity of random impressions. I thought of our urban areas, where the saxophone was spawned, and of the tragedies and struggles that occur in this environment daily. But I was also inspired by the energy and power of our cities and the humor inherent in their conflicts. I feel that the saxophone is particularly well suited to express the variety of emotions required for this idea, because it can be not only highly personal and poignant in character, but also powerful and commanding...In my mind, I heard four saxophones singing in a vocal quartet, a music that was liturgical in nature but with a bluesy overtone, a kind of "after hours" requiem.'
To find out more about the piece, check out:
http://www.michaelcolgrass.com/
Recordings:
University of Miami
Great Lakes Saxophone Quartet
It’s an amazing piece which is at once spell-binding, moving and fun at the same time.
"`Urban Requiem,' according to Michael Colgrass, `might be described as an urban tale, inspired by a diversity of random impressions. I thought of our urban areas, where the saxophone was spawned, and of the tragedies and struggles that occur in this environment daily. But I was also inspired by the energy and power of our cities and the humor inherent in their conflicts. I feel that the saxophone is particularly well suited to express the variety of emotions required for this idea, because it can be not only highly personal and poignant in character, but also powerful and commanding...In my mind, I heard four saxophones singing in a vocal quartet, a music that was liturgical in nature but with a bluesy overtone, a kind of "after hours" requiem.'
To find out more about the piece, check out:
http://www.michaelcolgrass.com/
Recordings:
University of Miami
Great Lakes Saxophone Quartet
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Spring update
May/30/08 16:09
It’s been a while since my last update! I’ve been
busy performing with the Premiere Sax Quartet, SF Ballet and teaching at
San Jose State.
The PSQ performed at the NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance) Biennial Convention at the University of South Carolina in August. We premiered Lucie Robert’s “Issos” for saxophone quartet and piano. I was only at the convention for 24 hours, as I had to hurry back to rehearse with the San Francisco Ballet for Yuri Possikov’s “Fusion,” part of their New Works Festival in late April and early May. It was an exciting time performing Graham Fitkin’s “Hard Fairy” for soprano saxophone and two pianos, along with his “Bed,” for two soprano saxes (with the wonderful Jim Dukey on the other sax part,) 2 violins, 2 cellos, string bass, marimba and piano. It looks like I’ll be going on tour to perform “Fusion” with the ballet in NYC at the New York City Center from October 10-18 this fall. In addition, the ballet will be part of the 2009 season again, as well. It’s Exciting!
The PSQ finished recording everything on our CD, Magheia. We hope to have it out by the fall. Check out more info on the quartet’s website.
Things are going well as SJSU. The saxophone studio continues to grow and get stronger. There were several excellent performances this semester, including graduate student Jonathan Bautista Lagunte’s recital in May. I also enjoyed observing and working with students and interns in the music education credential program as well as teaching an instrumental methods course for music education majors.
Come here me play a concerto, Sapphire by Catherine McMichael, with the Villages Band, a retirement community in San Jose on June 8 at 2:30pm. Check out my Concerts page for more info.
I’m looking foward to having time to practice, garden, sail and prepare for next year this summer. I promise to post more frequently in the coming months--thanks for visiting!
Dale
The PSQ performed at the NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance) Biennial Convention at the University of South Carolina in August. We premiered Lucie Robert’s “Issos” for saxophone quartet and piano. I was only at the convention for 24 hours, as I had to hurry back to rehearse with the San Francisco Ballet for Yuri Possikov’s “Fusion,” part of their New Works Festival in late April and early May. It was an exciting time performing Graham Fitkin’s “Hard Fairy” for soprano saxophone and two pianos, along with his “Bed,” for two soprano saxes (with the wonderful Jim Dukey on the other sax part,) 2 violins, 2 cellos, string bass, marimba and piano. It looks like I’ll be going on tour to perform “Fusion” with the ballet in NYC at the New York City Center from October 10-18 this fall. In addition, the ballet will be part of the 2009 season again, as well. It’s Exciting!
The PSQ finished recording everything on our CD, Magheia. We hope to have it out by the fall. Check out more info on the quartet’s website.
Things are going well as SJSU. The saxophone studio continues to grow and get stronger. There were several excellent performances this semester, including graduate student Jonathan Bautista Lagunte’s recital in May. I also enjoyed observing and working with students and interns in the music education credential program as well as teaching an instrumental methods course for music education majors.
Come here me play a concerto, Sapphire by Catherine McMichael, with the Villages Band, a retirement community in San Jose on June 8 at 2:30pm. Check out my Concerts page for more info.
I’m looking foward to having time to practice, garden, sail and prepare for next year this summer. I promise to post more frequently in the coming months--thanks for visiting!
Dale
PSQ SJCO Review
Oct/24/07 09:47
The Premiere Saxophone Quartet's performance last
Sunday of Laura Karpman's new work for
sax quartet and chamber orchestra with the
San Jose Chamber Orchestra
under the magnificent direction of Barbara Day
Turner was a smashing success.
We're hoping to perform the piece again in the near future. We'll let you know when this happens!
We're hoping to perform the piece again in the near future. We'll let you know when this happens!
PSQ Concerts in October
Oct/17/07 14:41
The PSQ has been preparing for two great concerts
this month. Details below.
The Premiere Saxophone Quartet will be premiering a new work for saxophone quartet and chamber orchestra by four-time Emmy winning composer Laura Karpman (www.laurakarpman.com) with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, directed by Barbara Day Turner on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 7pm. This major new work features each of the members of the quartet in a movement influenced by an improvisation of a famous saxophonist--John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan. The piece promises to be a major addition to the saxophone repertoire.
Details for this concert can be found at: http://sjco.org/
The Premiere Saxophone Quartet will also being performing another new work for saxophone quartet and piano by Lucie Robert-Diessel at our San Jose State Concert on October 28th. You may be aware we "premiered" the beginning of this piece at our spring concert--now come hear the complete piece in this "premiere" of the ending! We'll be joined by Victoria DiMaggio Lington on the piano. In addition we'll be performing a recent work by Joseph Trapanese, "New York Rising," a new arrangement of Vaughn-Williams' "Six English Folksongs" by our own Aaron Lington, as well as Pierne's "Introduction et Variations sur une Ronde Populaire."
Here's the details:
San José State University School of Music & Dance
Concert Hall
San Jose, CA
3:00 p.m.
$10 General, $5 Student
Parking and further info is available at: http://www.music.sjsu.edu/admin/events/index.html
I hope to see you at one (or both!) of these concerts!
Best regards,
Dale Wolford
The Premiere Saxophone Quartet will be premiering a new work for saxophone quartet and chamber orchestra by four-time Emmy winning composer Laura Karpman (www.laurakarpman.com) with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, directed by Barbara Day Turner on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 7pm. This major new work features each of the members of the quartet in a movement influenced by an improvisation of a famous saxophonist--John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan. The piece promises to be a major addition to the saxophone repertoire.
Details for this concert can be found at: http://sjco.org/
The Premiere Saxophone Quartet will also being performing another new work for saxophone quartet and piano by Lucie Robert-Diessel at our San Jose State Concert on October 28th. You may be aware we "premiered" the beginning of this piece at our spring concert--now come hear the complete piece in this "premiere" of the ending! We'll be joined by Victoria DiMaggio Lington on the piano. In addition we'll be performing a recent work by Joseph Trapanese, "New York Rising," a new arrangement of Vaughn-Williams' "Six English Folksongs" by our own Aaron Lington, as well as Pierne's "Introduction et Variations sur une Ronde Populaire."
Here's the details:
San José State University School of Music & Dance
Concert Hall
San Jose, CA
3:00 p.m.
$10 General, $5 Student
Parking and further info is available at: http://www.music.sjsu.edu/admin/events/index.html
I hope to see you at one (or both!) of these concerts!
Best regards,
Dale Wolford