Category
Soloist with Ensemble
Details
2008, 2 movements, 19 mins.
Published by
Magnolia Music Press
Description
The first movement, “Berceuse pour la Nouvelle-Orléans”, is a lullaby for a damaged New Orleans. The second movement, “Passacaglia”, is a set of variations on a 6-1/2 beat bass line.
A piano reduction of this concerto can be found above under Chamber Music.
Recording
No commercial recording available
Reviews
By Ron Teplitz, Classical Sonoma, January 28, 2024
In its West Coast premiere, Paul Hayden’s Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra brought the complexities of contemporary harmonies and thematic development to bear in a cutting-edge creative work. The first of two movements, Lullaby for New Orleans is intended as salve for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. A gauzy, atmospheric accompaniment surrounded the alto solo instrument’s gentle flight in clouds of shifting color. Andrew Harrison played with warmth and agility throughout in endless cascades of sweet and swift notes.
A Passacaglia second movement with its phrases in bass line repeats, introduced that thematic phrase which persists for a while in the background until it was superseded by variations. Mr. Harrison launched into a swirling headlong rush of song, pushing the limits of his instrument’s range. Conductor Norman Gamboa deftly paced the orchestra, balancing well with the perpetually moving sax solo, and propelling the musical line along. Mr. Harrison’s cadenza dazzled with intensity. The piece ended in high speed, with the orchestra imitating the soloist’s short bursts of phrase.