Alto Saxophone Sonata

Cast in three movements, David Gillingham's Alto Saxophone Sonata is a tour-de-force that showcases the versatility of the instrument of both the saxophone and piano. It was premiered at the World Saxophone Congress in Japan in 1988 by John Nichol, Professor of Saxophone at Central Michigan University, with David Gillingham at the piano.

Genre: Solo Alto Saxophone with Piano | # of Players: 2
Level: Difficult | Duration: 20:00

Instrumentation
Alto Saxophone
Piano

Program Notes
The Alto Saxophone Sonata received its world premiere performance at the World Saxophone Congress in Japan in 1988 by John Nichol, Professor of Saxophone at Central Michigan University, with David Gillingham at the piano.

The first movement is structured in a sonata design, preceded by a slow and plaintive introduction. The allegro portion of the movement features an athletic primary theme, which requires rapid tonguing and fingering and a more lyrical, but angular, secondary theme. A mystical chaconne with nine variations comprises the second movement. The third movement is cast in sonata-rondo form with the driving primary theme accompanied by triplet figures in the piano and a very tuneful secondary theme. A frantic tempo governs this movement from its intense beginning to its wild and flourishing ending.