Jean-Yves Fourmeau, a renowned saxophone player, talks about the encounter with saxophones and why he continues to play the Yamaha instrument for more than 25 years.
To start this video, JYF does justice to the opening passages of a transcription from J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No.1 in G major, BVW 1007iii. And the opening note is G sharp on the alto, which is very close to true concert E as this video plays, showing that it was recorded at the correct speed (unlike the recordings I own of Rostropovich du Pres on cello, both of which are seriously flat compared with the correct concert pitch. But maybe the artists just said "Screw it ... this is a solo not an ensemble! .. I'm playing my version of concert E!).
That is the beauty of Yamaha saxophones: they can sound as any brass or woodwind, which was the original idea behind Adolphe's design when he constructed the saxophone. But this is still the saxophone sound; what we need is dedicated Baroque music made for saxophone (no such thing - yet); slightly slower pace and more tone sculpting, to make instrument growl. If the gentleman here twisted the tongue, put a freeblowing mouthpiece, this could sound like the jazziest sax sound ever.
The stuff happening in Russia now with Saxophone is profound. It makes Formeau's playing seem sloppy in places. Yes, he's doing quite a good job here, but saxophonists must strive to evolve their playing beyond the limits of their instrument. A true master will present a story that leaves no traces of the tools used to create it. I mean no disrespect, but if Formeau is held up to the world as a 'renowned' musician, he should be held to world-class musical standards. I believe if any excellent flutist, cellist, or violinist heard this, they would not consider him a renowned player and I hope that saxophonists can continue to evolve their craft. I'm from North America, so I'm not a nationalist cheering for my country. Check out the Russian scene. I also play a gold plated Custom Yamaha, but I haven't worn a tux in many moons. haha... peace.
@@bobmatt5175 Hi Bob! Notes 6 to 8 have a poor flow of time. There is a quality of friction and slight clumsiness that I would ask my students to practice until their music flowed out of their horns like water. Yes, Formeau can play all of the notes, however, I am talking about a lack of flow, precision, and arsthetic balance that is missing compared to the incredibly precise playing coming out of Russian players these days. I'm actually from Canada and don't have any Russian in me so please don't suggest I'm being nationalistic!
@@bobmatt5175 If you and I could sit together and review the video, I could stop and show you all the cringy parts that make this very hard for me to listen to.
@@ashleyinkorea I absolutely agree that saxophonists need to be held to a higher standard and that the current standard is much too low but I'm not sure your criticism here is apt. The tempo is fine - perhaps not perfectly steady but I'd interpret that more as rubato rather than unintentional unevenness of technique. It's also generally quite clean and flows pretty well, do you have a specific timestamp that you are thinking of perhaps? To me, he plays with a beautiful sound, great phrasing, and solid technique (particularly with low note response). Indeed, the Russian school is very impressive nowadays as it should be - each generation must be better than the one before if we are to progress! That being said, it sometimes goes too far in showcasing technique and loses sight of the music imo. Fourmeau plays very musically and evenly. He's not my favorite player but I would never call him sloppy. I'm also neither French nor Russian so no bias here either.
@@bobmatt5175 Hey Bob. Nice to hear from you! I believe that, to your ear, you perceive no imperfections. Of course, he's playing all the notes on the page. I'm talking about the subtle flaws in the flow of the lines that are painful to me. I quite like his sound and phrasing. The low note that he plays (I don't have the music in front of me) just before :19 is not clean at all. If you are very passionate about which note I'm talking about, I can dig the music up, and you can listen to it against to see if you feel it was clean, or if it was muddy... If we were in a cafe together, it would be much easier to point out... (ever in Seoul, or Vancouver?) The low note blats don't really bother me as much. Water flows out of a jug... well, like water... fluidly. To my ear, there are some parts in this excerpt that are fluid and other parts where I feel the difficulties of the instrument are hampering the flow of the lines. I'm speaking about a very subtle distinction. If this player were to go and have a lesson with a principal flutist or violinist of any major orchestra, do you believe that they would disagree with me? Anyways, either A) You are correct and I am imagining things or pretending to hear flaws and feel the need to comment on this excellent player. or... B) I am correct, and I simply have a more refined ear than you. Of course, some people have more refined musical perception than other people. I'm not trying to offend you. There are certainly scores of musicians that hear more accurately than I and I'm sure many with far superior aesthetic awareness than I have attained. I have several degrees, have been teaching for nearly 30 years, and playing for longer. I only commented here as I would not let my students play lines with friction in them like that. When I hear my students playing with this degree of friction, I have them slow down and really listen to themselves. I encourage my students to practice until their playing flows out of them in lines that do not betray the difficulties and idiosyncratic hurdles of their instrument... This man is a great player, and it just hurts my heart to hear him ignoring this degree of polish. To most people, I think they will not be able to perceive the shortcomings that bother me here, however for musicians with a highly refined ear, they will understand what I'm talking about... I wish you well. If we had our saxophones together, I would love to hear you play and perhaps I could demonstrate what I'm talking about. Perhaps I could help your playing. I do not wish to mock people here, simply to be sincere and help others. I hope my words do not offend you Bob!
"If you live your life together with music, you will be able to achieve your dreams". One couldn't say it better!
Could you help me with the name of the song?
Brilliant! Courante has never been expressed so beautifully on a wind instrument.
Amazing sound!!
Félicitation Jean-Yves cette vidéo est très inspirante !
...........beautifully sound best saxophonist
I remember playing that piece back in high school
What piece is it? The one played at very beginning. I'd like to learn it.
Yeah? Did it sound like this?
..." RESPECT " ......mon frère...bises.
To start this video, JYF does justice to the opening passages of a transcription from J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No.1 in G major, BVW 1007iii. And the opening note is G sharp on the alto, which is very close to true concert E as this video plays, showing that it was recorded at the correct speed (unlike the recordings I own of Rostropovich du Pres on cello, both of which are seriously flat compared with the correct concert pitch. But maybe the artists just said "Screw it ... this is a solo not an ensemble! .. I'm playing my version of concert E!).
Bravo !
My professor studied with him:)
Does anybody knows the name of the song he plays at the end?
I forgot the name
Make a video of this piece brian :p
it sounds like part of the cello suite thing by bach
it's one of Bach's Courantes
Wow awesome sound 👏 international artist who can't speak Emglish 😱
Even don't know the spelling of English. ( please check your spelling English). 🤣🤣🤣
Actualy I dont like Yamaha sax, sound like a clarinet not like a sax
That is the beauty of Yamaha saxophones: they can sound as any brass or woodwind, which was the original idea behind Adolphe's design when he constructed the saxophone. But this is still the saxophone sound; what we need is dedicated Baroque music made for saxophone (no such thing - yet); slightly slower pace and more tone sculpting, to make instrument growl. If the gentleman here twisted the tongue, put a freeblowing mouthpiece, this could sound like the jazziest sax sound ever.
The stuff happening in Russia now with Saxophone is profound. It makes Formeau's playing seem sloppy in places. Yes, he's doing quite a good job here, but saxophonists must strive to evolve their playing beyond the limits of their instrument. A true master will present a story that leaves no traces of the tools used to create it. I mean no disrespect, but if Formeau is held up to the world as a 'renowned' musician, he should be held to world-class musical standards. I believe if any excellent flutist, cellist, or violinist heard this, they would not consider him a renowned player and I hope that saxophonists can continue to evolve their craft. I'm from North America, so I'm not a nationalist cheering for my country. Check out the Russian scene. I also play a gold plated Custom Yamaha, but I haven't worn a tux in many moons. haha... peace.
What part of the opening excerpt is sloppy?
@@bobmatt5175 Hi Bob! Notes 6 to 8 have a poor flow of time. There is a quality of friction and slight clumsiness that I would ask my students to practice until their music flowed out of their horns like water. Yes, Formeau can play all of the notes, however, I am talking about a lack of flow, precision, and arsthetic balance that is missing compared to the incredibly precise playing coming out of Russian players these days. I'm actually from Canada and don't have any Russian in me so please don't suggest I'm being nationalistic!
@@bobmatt5175 If you and I could sit together and review the video, I could stop and show you all the cringy parts that make this very hard for me to listen to.
@@ashleyinkorea I absolutely agree that saxophonists need to be held to a higher standard and that the current standard is much too low but I'm not sure your criticism here is apt. The tempo is fine - perhaps not perfectly steady but I'd interpret that more as rubato rather than unintentional unevenness of technique. It's also generally quite clean and flows pretty well, do you have a specific timestamp that you are thinking of perhaps? To me, he plays with a beautiful sound, great phrasing, and solid technique (particularly with low note response).
Indeed, the Russian school is very impressive nowadays as it should be - each generation must be better than the one before if we are to progress! That being said, it sometimes goes too far in showcasing technique and loses sight of the music imo. Fourmeau plays very musically and evenly. He's not my favorite player but I would never call him sloppy. I'm also neither French nor Russian so no bias here either.
@@bobmatt5175 Hey Bob. Nice to hear from you! I believe that, to your ear, you perceive no imperfections. Of course, he's playing all the notes on the page. I'm talking about the subtle flaws in the flow of the lines that are painful to me. I quite like his sound and phrasing. The low note that he plays (I don't have the music in front of me) just before :19 is not clean at all. If you are very passionate about which note I'm talking about, I can dig the music up, and you can listen to it against to see if you feel it was clean, or if it was muddy... If we were in a cafe together, it would be much easier to point out... (ever in Seoul, or Vancouver?) The low note blats don't really bother me as much. Water flows out of a jug... well, like water... fluidly. To my ear, there are some parts in this excerpt that are fluid and other parts where I feel the difficulties of the instrument are hampering the flow of the lines. I'm speaking about a very subtle distinction. If this player were to go and have a lesson with a principal flutist or violinist of any major orchestra, do you believe that they would disagree with me? Anyways, either A) You are correct and I am imagining things or pretending to hear flaws and feel the need to comment on this excellent player. or... B) I am correct, and I simply have a more refined ear than you. Of course, some people have more refined musical perception than other people. I'm not trying to offend you. There are certainly scores of musicians that hear more accurately than I and I'm sure many with far superior aesthetic awareness than I have attained. I have several degrees, have been teaching for nearly 30 years, and playing for longer. I only commented here as I would not let my students play lines with friction in them like that. When I hear my students playing with this degree of friction, I have them slow down and really listen to themselves. I encourage my students to practice until their playing flows out of them in lines that do not betray the difficulties and idiosyncratic hurdles of their instrument... This man is a great player, and it just hurts my heart to hear him ignoring this degree of polish. To most people, I think they will not be able to perceive the shortcomings that bother me here, however for musicians with a highly refined ear, they will understand what I'm talking about... I wish you well. If we had our saxophones together, I would love to hear you play and perhaps I could demonstrate what I'm talking about. Perhaps I could help your playing. I do not wish to mock people here, simply to be sincere and help others. I hope my words do not offend you Bob!