Publisher's note:
The study book 'Sax Scorchers' is a pioneering collaboration between the familiar world of hard-copy music publishing and the tremendous new energy of creative music on the web. The inspiration for this book of 20 studies began traditionally enough, with the success of our existing saxophone study books, Karen Street’s, 'Street Beats', and Chris Gumbley’s, '15 Crazy Jazz Studies' both of which now appear on the saxophone syllabuses of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
These albums are highly enjoyable explorations of the two composers’ individual and varied styles. However, I was very aware that there was even more diversity to be tapped within the substantial pool of talent provided by all of our other Saxtet Publications composers. Fired by our original, co-operative vision, (to publish music written for saxophonists by saxophonists) I therefore asked all of our existing composers to contribute one study for this album.
I was also keen to cast the net even wider and harness some of the impressive and imaginative writing that was receiving new exposure on the web. The ‘virtual’ element of this album comes from a competition we launched on SibeliusMusic.com, the self-publishing arm of the notation software, Sibelius, for a one-page study in any style. Although the original intention was to publish only the winner in this album, we have ended up including three other entries which we found especially appealing.
The outcome of the project is a pan-global, multi-genre cornucopia of saxophonic diversity. Students and professionals should find plenty to get their teeth into technically as the varied backgrounds of the contributors, who span four continents, also ensure plenty of musical and stylistic challenges.
Individual studies take you on a visit to the Scottish highlands, the Punjab, the Caribbean, Tuscany, and beyond, while genres represented include pop, jazz, contemporary, classical, folk, romantic, latin, be-bop and funk.
This album has been great fun – but quite a challenge! – to compile. I hope you have fun and are challenged when you play the studies.
Nigel Wood - August 2001
- EAN: 5020679577844
- ISMN: 9790570521180 (M570521180)
