SALLY BEAMISH: Chamber Concerto "Baroque" version

Chamber Concerto

«Baroque» version

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STUDY SCORE

Chamber Concerto

For saxophone quartet and strings, «baroque» version

For the Raschér Quartet.

This work was commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Norrbottens Kammarorkester and the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, for the Raschér Saxophone Quartet, and first performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker at the City Halls, Glasgow, on 18th January 2008. It was given it´s Scandinavian premiere on 24th January in Luleå, Sweden by the Norrbottens Kammarorkester conducted by Peter Sundquist. It´s German premiere will be given by the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester in 2008.

Publisher:

Norsk Musikforlag A/S Postboks 1499, Vika N-0116 Oslo NORWAY

TEL 00-47-23 00 20 10

FAX 00-47 23 00 20 11

Copyright© 2008 by Norsk Musikforlag A/S

This work is published in the following editions:

Original version:

Study score (A4) (N.M.O. 12481A/ ISMN M-065-11590-0)-on sale

Conductor´s score (B4) (N.M.O. 12481B/ ISMN M-065-11591-7)-on hire

Orchestral parts (B4) (N.M.O. 12481C/ ISMN M-065-11492-4)-on hire

«Baroque» version:

Preview

CHAMBER CONCERTO

for saxophone quartet and strings, «baroque» version *

Programme Note

This work has two main sources of inspiration. One is the extraordinary artistry of the Raschèr Quartet, to whom it is dedicated, and the other is Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos – works I grew up with, and which have always held a fascination for me. I have used the idea of ‘concertante’ and ‘ripieno’, with the saxophones featured both as an entity and as individual soloists. There are also soloists within the string group.

The first movement is modelled on the first movement of Brandenburg Four, following the structure quite closely, with similar points of tension and climax, using shifts of meter and virtuosic doubling of tempo.

The second movement takes as its starting point an exact canon, with ornamentation that stems both from the Baroque, and from traditional Scottish music. The canon at times hints at the contrapuntal nature of Gaelic psalm, set against direct quotes from Brandenburg Six in the ‘walking’ bass line.

The last movement uses a simple pentatonic theme, which is introduced as a fugato, in the manner of many of Bach’s finales. Although the semiquavers remain regular, the meter alters and destabilises. Transposed sequences, in the baroque tradition, are undermined by wild, mocking saxophone interjections. The music condenses and overlaps, creating more tension. Towards the end, a repeated, rough, chordal motif is introduced, which precipitates the ending.

The Chamber Concerto was jointly commissioned by the Scottish, Stuttgart and Norbotten Chamber Orchestras, and first performed by the Raschèr Quartet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Garry Walker.

Sally Beamish 2006

*This «Baroque» version was initiated by The Raschér Saxophone Quartet to suit ensembles using period instruments.

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Cover design: Christopher Haanes

Graphic production and print: Oslo Sats, Repro & Montasje A7S, Oslo.

Printed in Norway

for the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet

Chamber Concerto

(baroque version)

for Saxophone Quartet and Strings

Allegro giusto q. = 60

Soprano Saxophone

Alto Saxophone

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone