Download set (Score & Parts)
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
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Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier" (composed in 1722) is an essential work. Nadia Boulanger, a mentor to Marcel Mule, had his students memorize the score as a basic reference to composition. This piece influenced Mule's "Ferling/48 Studies" and is particularly important for saxophonists as it helps develop a sense of tonality and harmony. Using "Prelude in C Major" in Book 1 No.1 as accompaniment, Charles-François Gounod, a French composer, composed a beautiful vocal piece in 1859. 137 years had passed since then, marking the transition from the Baroque to Romantic period. Now, more than 150 years later, I have added a contemporary obligato with the sound of the modern saxophone. I hope you will savor the fusion of music from three different periods - Baroque, Romantic, and Contemporary - as well as from three different countries: Germany, France, and Japan.
Although I have contrasted the melody between the soprano and baritone saxophones, you can also perform it as a trio, with accompaniment on a keyboard instrument, based on Bach's original score (note that the prelude and the 27th and 60th bars have been added). Furthermore, you can play the soprano part with T. Sax and the baritone part with A. Sax. Make a grandstand play for solos.
(Kin-ichi Nakamura)
