By:

• Michael Vinten

Duration:

25' 00"

Instrumentation:

212(both dbl bass cl.)2; 2210; timp., celeste, harp; solo alto saxophone; strings

Contents:

Five movements: Moderato; Allegro; Andante; Lento; Allegro Vivace

Availability

• This work has 3 scores and a recording

Programme Note

The Concerto was written in January 2006 as fulfilment of a long standing promise to write a piece for saxophonist Simon Brew. What began, in concept, as a modest “concertino” grew into a five movement “grand” concerto of nearly 30 minutes, which makes it, according to Simon, one of the longer concertos in the Alto Saxophone repertoire; I’m still not quite sure how it happened, it just kept on growing.

The Concerto was commissioned by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, is dedicated to Simon, and was premiered in May 2006. The first two movements, including some revisions, were later presented at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings on 6 November 2006.

The first movement is an accompanied cadenza for the saxophone which outlines the major thematic material for the concerto. This movement reoccurs, in modified form, as the central episode of the last movement. The second movement is in traditional concerto sonata form. The Concerto unashamedly follows classical structures throughout. Avant-garde it ain’t!

Commissioned:

Commissioned by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, written for saxophonist Simon Brew.

Performance History

	25 Jun 2006	Performed by Simon Brew (alto saxophone), Wellington Youth Sinfonietta cond. Michael Vinten; St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington
		Michael Vinten    Simon Brew
	06 Nov 2006	Performed in a rehearsed reading by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich as part of the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings Movements 1 and 2
		Hamish McKeich    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
	01 Oct 2007	Performed by Simon Brew (alto saxophone) and the Wellington Chamber Orchestra, cond. Michael Vinten

Awards

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2006)
  

  Movements 1 & 2 from Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra was performed at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in November 2006