Saxophone Etudes

Latin Collection

Composition Portfolio 2011

In the Morning Light - Etude

Axarquía (pronounced:  axe-sa⟨r⟩-kee-ya; ⟨r⟩ = roll the "r")

In southern Spain, east of Malaga City, orange trees adorn the streets and the beaches are open all year. Recognized for having the best weather in Europe. Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV.

Axarquía - Etude

Sunbeams and Space Faeries - Etude

Watch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geXnF8Gq4Qk

In the dimly lit, rustic courtyard of a centuries-old Andalusian hacienda, the air pulsated with the haunting strains of a lone guitar, setting the stage for the enigmatic performance about to unfold. La Serpiente Cascabel Danzante, a renowned Spanish Flamenco dancer, emerged, adorned in vibrant red and black ruffles that mimicked the undulating patterns of a coiled serpent. As the dancer gracefully moved, her every step was a hypnotic fusion of elegance and danger. The presence of a live rattlesnake, its menacing rattle providing an intense rhythm, added an element of primal mystique to the performance. With each turn, the dancer skillfully maneuvered around the serpent, creating a symbiotic connection between two mesmerizing beings. The rattlesnake, seemingly entranced by the rhythmic cadence, responded with subtle movements of its own, forming a symbiotic partnership that captivated the audience. The dance, an intricate tapestry of flamenco footwork and the serpent's sinuous twists, conveyed both the allure and peril of the untamed. La Serpiente Cascabel Danzante's performance became an unforgettable tableau, where the lines between beauty and danger blurred, leaving spectators in awe of the extraordinary and daring display before them.

La Serpiente Cascabel Danzante

La Serpiente Cascabel Danzante - Etude

Watch video: https://youtu.be/acYJbO32CAs

Well, picture this: a swell gathering of cartoon jellyfish, floating in the roaring underwater currents, shooting the breeze in true 1920s fashion. These hip jellyfish are the cat's pajamas, flaunting their fringed tendrils and donning dapper bow ties, all while engaging in lively banter. "Well, ain't this the bee's knees," one jellyfish exclaims with a wink, its phosphorescent glow reflecting the glint of a hidden speakeasy. Another jellyfish chimes in, "Say, sweetheart, you're the real McCoy, ain't ya?" They exchange words in a jazzy rhythm, using lingo like "flapper," "giggle water," and "hooch," transporting the underwater scene to a bygone era where even jellyfish spoke the language of the Charleston. It's a swell time under the sea, where the jive-talking jellyfish create a splash of retro charm.

A Poem for Jellyfish:

In the vast expanse where oceans dance,
Majestic jellyfish in a trance,
Their tendrils grace, a celestial embrace,
In waters deep, they find their place.

Beneath the waves, a symphony of light,
A ballet of tendrils, a wondrous sight,
Gentle pulses, a rhythmic flow,
In the ocean's bosom, they bestow.

With smiles of grace, they glide along,
Silent poets, singing a wordless song,
Their translucent beauty, a divine array,
In the deep, where shadows sway.

A celestial dance in the liquid abyss,
Jellyfish, seraphs with a soft bliss,
Milton's ink would ebb and flow,
To capture the ethereal glow.

In aqueous realms, they reign supreme,
Mystic creatures of a watery dream,
As oceanic hymns softly chime,
Jellyfish smile through the depths of time.

Jelly Fish

Jelly Fish - Etude

Composed by Ryan Peplinski
Performed by Fermín Aguirre (Guitar)

The Angry Rooster 2.0
Tango del Despertar del Gallo (Tango of the Rooster's Awakening)


The rooster, his feathers ruffled and his temper flaring, was abruptly jolted from his slumber by the cacophony of clucking hens. With a furious crow that echoed through the coop, he stormed out, ready to give the impertinent hens a piece of his mind. But as he approached, the rhythmic beat of their clucks seemed to morph into a lively melody, and before he knew it, the rooster found himself caught up in an unexpected tango. His anger melted away as he danced with the hens, their feathers swirling in time with the music, turning the early morning commotion into an impromptu celebration of life.

Released by:
Zolbirrer Records
Release date:
27 March 2024

℗ ©Copyright 2024 by Ryan Peplinski/Zolbirrer Records/SOCAN. All rights reserved.

Tango del Despertar del Gallo

Tango del Despertar del Gallo (feat. Fermín Aguirre, guitar)

Composed by Ryan Peplinski
Performed by Guido Gavazza (Bandoneon)

The Angry Rooster 3.0
Pasión del Gallo Enojado (Passion of the Angry Rooster)

See also:
The Angry Rooster Collection
https://soundcloud.com/ryanpeplinski/sets/the-angry-rooster

The rooster, his feathers ruffled and his temper flaring, was abruptly jolted from his slumber by the cacophony of clucking hens. With a furious crow that echoed through the coop, he stormed out, ready to give the impertinent hens a piece of his mind. But as he approached, the rhythmic beat of their clucks seemed to morph into a lively melody, and before he knew it, the rooster found himself caught up in an unexpected tango. His anger melted away as he danced with the hens, their feathers swirling in time with the music, turning the early morning commotion into an impromptu celebration of life.

Released by:
Zolbirrer Records
Release date:
04 January 2025

℗ ©Copyright 2024 by Ryan Peplinski/Zolbirrer Records/SOCAN. All rights reserved.

Pasión del Gallo Enojado

Pasión del Gallo Enojado (feat. Guido Gavazza, bandoneon)

On the edge of a forgotten town, where the wind carried whispers of old songs, two crows perched on a crumbling rooftop. Their black feathers gleamed under the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. They were called Sombra and Brisa, and they had been watching the same empty ballroom for years.  

Inside, the wooden floor was coated in dust, except for a single smooth patch where feet had once traced a passionate dance. The scent of burnt wood still lingered—long ago, a fire had consumed the grand chandelier, leaving behind only charred remains and a piano missing half its keys.  

One night, as the moon hung low, Brisa let out a quiet caw. "Do you remember?"  

Sombra ruffled his feathers. "I remember everything."  

They had once been ordinary crows, scavengers of lost things. But one night, when the tango was at its peak, they had watched a man and a woman spin across the floor, their movements fiery and desperate. Love, rage, longing—each step was a word, each turn a plea.  

Then came the fire. A forgotten candle. A flash of panic. The dance ended, and the ballroom never breathed again.  

The crows had not left since.  

Brisa hopped closer to the shattered window. "The music is still here."  

Sombra closed his eyes. And in the hush of the wind, he heard it. Not from a gramophone, not from the ruins of the piano, but from the very air itself—a ghostly bandoneón sighing its sorrow.  

Without another word, the crows lifted into the night, their wings cutting through the silence. They moved as one, a flicker of black against the glow of the forgotten ballroom, spiraling above the empty dance floor.  

Below them, the ashes stirred. The floor creaked—not from weight, but from memory. And for just a moment, in the hush between heartbeats, the shadows of two lost lovers flickered into being, stepping into their final tango.  

Then, as the wind carried away the last traces of smoke, the crows vanished into the night, never to return.

Cenizas de un Tango Perdido (Ashes of a Lost Tango)

Havana Heatwave

Midnight Embers

Salvation --> Romans 10:9 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.