Look, sax players don’t get the opportunity to play music by “the big composers.” Most of them were dead before our instrument was invented, let alone made popular. Mendelssohn is another composer I’ve always enjoyed, and I just thought we needed some of his music in our repertoire.

Score + Parts available on SaxRhino.com: http://saxrhino.com/piece/two-venetian-gondolas-by-felix-mendelssohn-op-19-no-6/

Two Venetian Gondolas by Felix Mendelssohn Op.19 No. 6

I stumbled across Mortimer Wilson as I was looking into American music from the turn of the century. Turns out that the same guy that composed the soundtrack for The Mark of Zorro also wrote chamber music. Who knew?

Score + Parts available on SaxRhino.com: http://saxrhino.com/piece/suite-rustica-by-mortimer-wilson-op-44/

Suite Rustica Mvt. II - Hillside Flowers

Suite Rustica Mvt. III - On the Lake

Suite Rustica Mvt. IV - A Playin' Lords and Ladies

Suite Rustica Mvt. V - A Romp In The Hay

Suite Rustica Mvt. VI - The Threshers

Suite Rustica Mvt. VII - At Twilight

Nicodé might not be your favorite composer. Actually, you’ve probably never even heard of him. That’s ok, I hadn’t either when I first discovered this piece. It has moments that are quasi-fugal and moments that are totally lyrical. Basically, it’s a little gem that I’m happy to have found.

Score + Parts available on SaxRhino.com: http://saxrhino.com/piece/free-download-song-of-longing-by-j-l-nicode-op-22-no-2/

Song Of Longing by J.L. Nicodé Op. 22 No. 2

I adore the love story between Clara and Robert Schumann. The man practically worshipped his wife. Honestly, finding the things he would sneak into his compositions for her were what kept me going during my form and analysis class. Here’s one of his little musical love notes to his wife.

Score + Parts available on SaxRhino.com: http://saxrhino.com/piece/little-romance-by-robert-schumann-op-68-no-26/

Little Romance by Robert Schumann Op. 68, No. 26

Edvard Grieg is quickly becoming one of my favorite “go-to” composers for character pieces. He wrote with such clarity that you definitely get the point, even if it is occasionally a little heavy handed.

Still, this is a great “downer” piece before you play that barn-burner to finish things up.

Score + Parts available on SaxRhino.com: http://saxrhino.com/piece/lonely-wanderer-by-edvard-grieg-op-43-no-2/

Lonely Wanderer by Edvard Grieg Op. 43, No. 2

I don’t know much about Lanciani, but this piece is a perfect example of painting a picture with sound. The soprano brilliantly captures the spirit of a songbird, and the background provided by the other saxes is lush, lush, lush.

This beautiful little gem will help round out your next concert and will make passers-by stop and listen.

Score + Parts available for download via Sax Rhino:
http://saxrhino.com/piece/elegy-for-a-sparrow-by-p-lanciani/

Elegy For A Sparrow by P. Lanciani

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