Without Ceasing: A Performance Analysis of Six Solo Works for Saxophone

Abstract

This thesis for the Doctor of Music degree consists of an audio recording, a public recital, a scholarly essay and program notes to compliment the recorded and live performance, and are available at https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-vkd1-tz03. The recording and concert consist of the following unaccompanied saxophone works: Le Frêne égaré (1978) for alto saxophone and …sur un îlot de la rivière.. (2010) for soprano saxophone by French composer, François Rossé; Oxyton (1993) for baritone saxophone by French composer Christophe Havel; Smoking Mirrors (Symbia II) (1995) for alto saxophone by American composer John M. Kennedy; Tilework for Saxophone (2003) by American composer, currently residing in France, Tom Johnson; and finally Strata (2012) for solo tenor saxophone by Canadian composer Colin Labadie. This scholarly essay explores the performance challenges and decisions that were made in preparing these works for the recording and final performance. In discussing historical saxophone literature, and how repertoire has transformed since 1970, this paper will compare and highlight the compositional techniques and notation found in the six unaccompanied saxophone works. Furthermore the discussion of the relationship between the performer, composer and score, and the challenges found within each work, will provide insight into the musical decisions that are showcased in the audio recording and live performance. Supplemental files to this thesis can be found at https://ualberta.aviaryplatform.com/r/2f7jq0tn0j