Airs Espagnols: Spanish Music for Classical Saxophone

On The Program:

Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla

Seven Spanish Songs by Manuel de Falla

Havanaise by Camille Saint-Saëns*

Set Cançons Valencianas by Joaquín Rodrigo*

Airs Espagnols by Pablo de Sarasate*

(*Original arrangements by Maureen Walsh)

Come spend the night immersed in the beauty of Spanish music! We begin with the sultry, passionate music of Piazzolla in Histoire du Tango. While originally for flute and guitar, it is a favorite piece for saxophone quartets and will be played here in this arrangement for soprano saxophone and piano. Next we hear sweet Spanish lullabies originally for soprano voice and piano by Manuel de Falla. Finishing the first half is Havanaise by Saint-Saëns, capturing the warm, bustling spirit of Havana. Originally for violin and orchestra tonight will be a world premier of its arrangement for alto saxophone and piano.

On the second half we introduce a lesser known piece by Joaquín Rodrigo, Seven Songs from Valencia. Originally for violin and piano, these offer a more mysterious and melancholy tone. The first five movements will be performed for the first time on the alto sax. In a thrilling finale we will present the arrangement of the violin concerto Airs Espagnols by Pablo de Sarasate. This soaring pieces dances and sings on the saxophone, played in this form for the first time tonight!