Masterworks IV: Escapades and Temperaments

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 2 “Four Temperaments”
Demersseman: Fantaisie sur un Thème Original for alto sax and strings
Williams: Escapades for Alto Sax and Orchestra

Ashu

February 20, 2010 7:30PM-10:00PM at Flathead High School Auditorium, Kalispell
February 21, 2010 3:00PM-5:30PM at Flathead High School Auditorium, Kalispell

Masterworks IV: Escapades and Temperaments The unique and engaging artistry of classical saxophonist Ashu will be featured in two extraordinary works for saxophone and orchestra. Escapades for Alto Sax and Orchestra by the prolific and revered American film composer John T. Williams is a quirky, jazzy, 60’s swaggeringly whimsical piece based on the film score from Catch Me If You Can (2002). Escapades is composed in a concertante style highlighting interplay from a number of orchestra soloists, vibes and bass most notably, with marvelous invention and subtle rhythmic shading. Ashu will also be featured in Fantaisie sur un Thème Original for alto saxaphone and strings (orchestrated Ashu) composed by French 19th century flutist, soloist and composer Jules Demersseman. The Fantaisie is one of several early compositions for saxophone composed for Demersseman’s Parisian friend and inventor of the instrument, Adolphe Sax. The second half of the concert will feature the 20th century Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2 entitled “The Four Temperaments”. The second of six symphonies Nielsen’s 2nd is firmly grounded in the late Romantic language of the Germanic/Scandinavian symphonic idiom but exhibits the composers emerging individual language. Composed in 1901-02 and inspired by a painting that he saw at an inn this unique piece attempts to musically portray aspects of each temperament (choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic and sanguine) in each of the symphony’s four movements. It is more of a complete formal symphony with character references rather than a true programmatic work. The music is at times stridently romantic, touchingly nostalgic, buoyant, inward looking and expansively energetic. Nielsen is considered along with Sibelius as two of the most important symphonists from Scandinavia.