Serenade for Alto Sax, Trumpet, and Orchestra (1997)
SERENADE FOR TRUMPET, ALTO SAXOPHONE AND ORCHESTRA interweaves the genres of classical and jazz musical forms. Commissioned by the American Jazz Philharmonic for the Henry Mancini Institute that encourages bridging the gap between the two musical art forms. SERENADE attempts to blur the lines by using “Wachet Auf,” a melody by J.S. Bach, as a tool to bring a17th century melody into the 21st century. It also communicates how the rhythms of Bach easily transcend the four century barrier. Bach has always been a wonderful tool in the teaching of classical music to young people because of its rhythmic bed and clear melodic and harmonic structure. A terrific, fun piece for the musicians, step-out parts for tpt, alto sax, horns, and jazz band. Some meter changes, needs a trumpet player with a high C (although it can be transposed down). The premiere performance, which I had the good fortune to conduct, got a standing ovation!
3 fl (db picc, alt sax), 23 (dB ten sax) 2 4441 2 perc, drum set, timp, hp, pn, stgs