Music for Saxophone Orchestra

Many things are addictive. For some people it's chocolate or champagne - for others it's the saxophone! These (and anyone else with a healthy curiosity) we can offer an experience far out of the ordinary. The well-known Raschèr Saxophone Quartet has joined up with some other eminent players (and one - eminent - percussionist) to give us a sonic tonic not to be forgotten. The newly formed saxophone orchestra has already commissioned a series of works from some of the most interesting contemporary composers. One of these - Match by Michael Denhoff - is among the works recorded here. Also on the programme are arrangements of classics new and old, such as Steve Reich's New York Counterpoint (originally for eleven clarinets) and the ever popular Holberg Suite by Grieg. Among these newcomers to the saxophone repertoire is also one of the first works ever to make use the instrument. Jean-Georges Kastner wrote his Sextet around 1844 after having made acquaintance with Adolphe Sax, but before the latter had even finished constructing the last of the members of the saxophone family. Enamoured by the sound of the new instrument, Kastner went on to include it in all his orchestral scores - which only goes to show how easy it is to develop a saxophone habit