Jonah Seigler 

Jonah Seigler In Senior Recital Program Notes

Tuesday, August 2, 2022 | Performances

  Jonah Seigler, Saxophone

Dr. Sung-Soo Cho, Piano

In Senior Recital,  Performance Date: May 1, 2022

Black for Two Baritone Saxophones (2008), Marc Mellits (b. 1966) ; Jason Grubenhoff, Baritone Saxophone

Prelude, Cadence et Finale (1956), Alfred Desenclos (1912-1971)

Harlem Nocturne (1939), Earle Hagen (1919-2008)

“Alpine” Sonata for Soprano Saxophone, Op. 37 (1993), Lawson Lunde (1935-2019)

Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 109 (1934), Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)

Program Notes: 

Black (2008) was originally composed for two amplified, all black bass clarinets, and was written for the

virtuoso duo, “Sqwonk.” The two parts weave tightly woven patterns together, creating a fabric of

music that has complete integration. The rhythm encases minimalism at its finest, as many sections are 

repeated with little to no variation. However, the momentum of the rhythm directed the work forward, 

as Mellits describes a black (w)hole.

Prelude, Cadence et Finale (1956)

Alfred Desenclos is a French composer who won the Prix de Rome in 1942. Prélude, Cadence et Finale 

is a piece for alto saxophone and piano written as a Paris Conservatoire Contest piece. Dedicated to

Marcel Mule, the famous French saxophonist, Prélude, Cadence et Finale is divided into three parts. It

 presents compositional techniques characteristic of the Impressionist period. Prélude, the first section,

 introduces recurring rhythmic passages and develops themes that will reappear throughout the piece.

The second section, Cadence, corresponds to a dynamic cadenza before launching into the Finale. The

 Finale is quite dramatic and uses some of the elements that previously appeared in the piece.

Harlem Nocturne (1939)

 "Harlem Nocturne" is a jazz standard written in 1939 by Earle Hagen (music) and Dick Rogers (lyrics)

 for the Ray Noble orchestra, of which they were members. The piece was chosen by the big-band 

leader Randy Brooks the next year as his theme song. I had not heard this work until this past year

 when we had read it in jazz ensemble at Midwestern State University. After that, I fell in love with the 

piece.

“Alpine” Sonata, Op. 37 (1993) 

Lawson Lunde, an American composer and pianist, appeared at age fourteen with the Chicago 

Symphony, and later studied composition with Vittorio Rieti and Robert Delaney. Lunde originally 

wrote the first movement for flute. It was performed in that form at an informal concert at the Alpine

Resort in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Eventually, it was revised it for soprano saxophone and added the 

finale in 1970.

Concerto, Op. 109 (1934)

Alexander Glazunov, the son of a publisher and a pianist, did not receive conservatory training, but

was a gifted musician. He gained the attention of Rimsky-Korsakov, Debussy, Faure and many others. 

He was eventually appointed as the Directorate of the Imperial Russian Music Society in 1905. Events

from the Russian Revolution as well as WWI caused some decrease in the amount of works he was able

to produce and publish. During this time, his main focus was writing Concerto, Op.109 for Sigurd 

Rascher.

Jonah Seigler In Junior Recital Program Notes

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.