Catango 5 (Sax Quartet + Band Gr. 4)

A joyful, spirited work that invites a professional saxophone quartet to workshop your students on the theme of playing with character. To that end, the work derives imagery from some of history's most notorious characters, as well as some literary ones.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Maturing
Level: 4 | Duration: 8:10

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (A3 spiral bound)

Professional Saxophone Quartet:
Soprano Saxophone
Alto/Soprano Saxophone
Tenor/Soprano Saxophone
Baritone/Soprano Saxophone

Flute
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Clarinet 1 in B-flat
Clarinet 2 in B-flat
Bass Clarinet in B-flat
Alto Saxophone 1 in E-flat
Alto Saxophone 2 in E-flat
Tenor Saxophone in B-flat
Baritone Saxophone in E-flat

Trumpet 1in B-flat
Trumpet 2 in B-flat
French Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium T.C./B.C.
String Bass

Mallet Percussion 1: Vibraphone, Xylophone, Triangle, Tambourine, Handclap
Mallet Percussion 2: Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Handclap, Woodblock
Timpani (4)
Percussion 1: Cajon, Handclap
Percussion 2: Cabasa, Hi-Hat, Ride Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Handclap, Woodblock, Vibraslap, Ratchet, Whistle, Cowbell, Tambourine

Program Notes
Catango 5 is a playful, tango-inspired work composed especially for senior wind ensemble and a professional saxophone quartet. Instead of taking a more traditional concerto grosso viewpoint with this work (i.e. solo quartet with accompanying ensemble), I have placed the quartet under the guise of mentors and infused much of their playing alongside that of the ensemble. The four members of the original quartet for which this was written, the Nexas Saxophone Quartet (www.nexasquartet.com) have vibrant personalities and this is most certainly demonstrated in their approach to playing the saxophone. With this in mind, components of Catango 5 are built around imaginary feline characters largely inspired by the personality traits observed in the 5 cats I have owned in this lifetime. Placing personality into your playing can be a challenging aspect of musicianship hence, I have written the work to also include mentoring opportunities between the visiting quartet and the wind band by way of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voicings that work in cohesion. The quartet thus have the opportunity to work alongside high school players and help them break through an all-important membrane: finding a freedom in their instrumental approach that is both expressive and personal. At the centre of the work is a vibrant, virtuosic moment for the quartet to shine with all players on Soprano Saxophone. This represents the feline dream state – a place to be safe and free.

Eltham High School Symphonic Band, conducted by Rick Plummer