Paul Creston - Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 26

From my DMA 2nd recital on April 7 2015 at Michigan State University
During the late 1930s Paul Creston served as accompanist for the saxophone virtuoso Cecil Leeson, and developed a fondness for the instrument’s unique characteristics. For Leeson he wrote a sonata and a suite which they included in their programmes, and in 1941 he dedicated his Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra to him, arranging it for saxophone and band a few years later.
In three movements, it makes a strong case for the saxophone as a solo instrument, featuring virtuosic passages in the first movement (Energetic) and third movement (Rhythmic), which ends with a pyrotechnical cadenza marked "as fast as possible." Meanwhile, the saxophone’s cantabile qualities are exploited to the full in the second movement, Meditative, where the 5/4 time and Impressionist-inspired harmonies combine in creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
- Program Note from liner notes of BIS CD La Création du Monde
I. Energetic(00:00)
II. Meditative(06:23)
III. Rhythmic(13:36)
www.chemieching.com/

[@estherchungmarkspianostudio]

It would be nice for you to acknowledge your pianist! She put in lots of work! You both played wonderfully.

[@donl3248]

When I performed recitals, I was constantly amazed that, to me the piano accompaniment was more difficult than the solo part.

[@imauz1127]

@@donl3248 yeah for pretty much any creston piece, the piano reduction is crazy hard. for the concerto and sonata, the piano part is of equal difficulty in my opinion

[@prestopiano88]

Fabulous collaborative pianist!

[@ASMRHongKong]

Perfect 🎧👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@minacciosa]

Fantastic!

[@ilovesaxophone]

minacciosa Thank you!

[@rloomis3]

Nice variety and control of tone colors, particularly in the cadenzas.

[@ilovesaxophone]

+rloomis3 Thanks for commenting again! You are a regular :D

[@rloomis3]

I know that musicians like you put in a heck of a lot of work, so I like to try to show some appreciation whenever I can. :)

[@ilovesaxophone]

+rloomis3 I appreciate it! Are you a musician as well?

[@rloomis3]

Depends on who you ask. ;-) Regardless, you can find several music performances on my channel.

[@williamporter4670]

Was the third movement single tongued? I'm learning that movement and I am having trouble getting it up to tempo.

[@ilovesaxophone]

Yes it was single tongued. What kind of trouble do you have?

[@mariacarmelavitiello3769]

what'is your setup in this video?

[@ilovesaxophone]

Saxophone: Selmer Super Action 80 Series II
Neck: Selmer Super Action 80 Series II Gold Plated
Mouthpiece: Selmer S90 180
Reed: Vandoren Traditional strength 4
Ligature: Ishimori Woodstone Gold Plated
Neckstrap: JAZZLAB saXholder

[@mariacarmelavitiello3769]

@@ilovesaxophone thank you so much,amazing sound!!!

[@ilovesaxophone]

@@mariacarmelavitiello3769 thank you for your comment :)

[@karenu.1853]

Great! Who is this girl? Someone tell me please.

[@danielguo6153]

its a guy... and it is the name of the yt channel...

[@donl3248]

@@danielguo6153 Dr. Chemie Ching’s bio uses the personal pronoun “her” on her website.