Jonah Seigler 

Tuesday, August 2, 2022 | Performances

  Jonah Seigler, Clarinet and Saxophone

Dr. Gyuwan Kim, Piano

Original Performance April 14, 2021

The program includes:

Solo De Concours (1901) Henri Rabaud (1873-1949)

Caprice for Soprano Saxophone, Op. 80 (1862) Jean Baptiste Singelée (1812-1875)

Sonata for Alto Saxophone, Op.19 (1939) Paul Creston(1906-1985)

I. With Vigor

II. With Tranquility

III. With Gaiety

Program Notes:

Solo de Concours

Henri Rabaud was a French conductor and composer. Conservative as a composer, Rabaud was known for his mantra, "modernism is the enemy.” It can be seen in his work, Solo de Concours, as he references previous musical time periods. This solo was written in 1901 for Charles Turban, a professor of clarinet at the Paris Conservatory, for a clarinet contest [concours]. Therefore, the work needed to have a variety of styles and techniques. The work contains three sections. It begins with a Renaissance toccata style cadenza performed over long pedal tones, then moves to a slow dance in triple meter, similar to a Baroque Sarabande. This segues into a lively Allegro, which closes with brilliant scales and arpeggios.

Caprice for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, Op. 80

Jean Baptiste Singelée was a Belgian composer of classical music. Singelée was one of the first composers for saxophone, as he was friends with Adolphe Sax, the creator of the saxophone. The work was used as one of the Paris Conservatory contest pieces in 1862. Singelée dedicated this work to Antonie Elwart, a composer who served as the Professor of Harmony at the Paris Conservatory. A Caprice is defined as a sudden change of pace. The work begins with an Allegro Moderato, quick paced and melodic, ending with a short cadenza. Next, the moderato changes the pace with sixteenth notes that make this feel much faster than the first section. The last section has power and drive towards the end of the work.

Sonata for Alto Saxophone, Op. 19

Paul Creston was an Italian-American composer of classical music. His Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano is considered a standard in the saxophone repertoire. This piece was written for Cecil Leeson. Leeson is credited for establishing the saxophone as a legitimate concert instrument. Creston’s music is known for having a strong rhythmic element. The first movement, With Vigor, is built off a sixteenth note motif and loud dynamics. The second movement, With Tranquility, feels uneasy due its odd meter. The third movement, With Gaiety, is upbeat and lively, with sixteenth note passages returning from the first movement.

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Bachelor of Music Performance. Mr. Seigler is a student of Dr. Sarah Dunbar.