Jacobi Sonata for Saxophone: I. Allegro, ma non troppo

[udayorama]

im in 7th grade and im playing this solo for cmea (california music educators association) in march. I use a selmar as 500 with a stock 4c mouthpiece and a rovner mark 3 with rico jazz select reeds

althiugh i use jazz reeds the ligature gives me a dark enough sound for this piece

i probably wont play it this fast

[Joel418]

@udayorama Good luck!

[udayorama]

@Joel418 update: i got a selmer s80 c* and am now using vandoren 2.5 reeds

and im actually in eighth grade

i have no idea why i wrote seventh

[tlthomps01]

Is this atonal? If not what concert key is it in?

[Joel418]

It's not exactly atonal, in that it does have a tonal center; however, it is not exactly tonally functional in that the requisite tonal hierarchies are not present. Jacobi creates a "feeling" of tonal center through the repetition of certain notes that resemble the tonal relationships of functionalism, as well as tonal-center construction that resembles these relationships.

All that fancy stuff to say, you might just call it "alternative" tonality ;)

[pammusai]

I've already performed this for an audition and was accepted thanks to your great rendition. However, right now i'm using a vandoren optimum mouthpiece which generates a very bright sound, much to birght for this piece and most classical pieces, even though it is an all purpose mouthpiece. What's your setup so I can tell whats an option for a more mellow sound that you achieve, or is it just the way that you play your horn that achieves this sound. Thankyou

[Joel418]

Congrats on your successful audition!!! I was using vandoren reed (3-1/2), Winslow ligature, Selmer C-star mouthpiece, all on a Yamaha Custom 875; all of these were oriented toward control, though different setups work for different people. All the best in your future endeavors :)

[godwearingblack]

@pammusai I don't know what you're doing that makes the optimum a bright mouthpiece. My C*, C**, Meyer 7M and V16 7M are all brighter and harder to control than an optimum. I use strength 3 Rico Reserves, and Vandoren Traditional on a AL3 and Ultimate or BG Tradition Ligature and it works pretty well for me.

[pammusai]

@godwearingblack I've started to use a Caravan which is far less bright, gives me more control, at the sole expense of high resistance, which, now, I have become accustomed to.

[AbramoMike]

Auditioning for North Jersey Regional Band tomorrow morning at 1130 with this piece. I'm having trouble with 2 or 3 spots on Mvmt 3. I just hope they don't tell me to play those parts :p I really like this piece but I'm kind of sick of it by now.

[Joel418]

Best of luck in the audition!

[MassHysteria92]

this is this year's audience piece for region band and i have to say, out of all the pieces ive played, it's probably the one i dislike most

[Joel418]

Why's that?

[t0tak3k3]

I have to play this for a region band and have absolutely no motivation or desire to compete in classical music. Makes it a bit harder to play ;_;

[Joel418]

You know, I had the opposite problem: playing the saxophone with no particular interest in jazz :)

[musik711]

I'm going to attempt to play this for Solo & Ensemble this year. I'm so nervous. I have until February but this is the most difficult piece I will have ever performed. I've been practicing and only have the first 20 measures down so far!!

[Joel418]

It is certainly a challenging piece! As I'm sure your teacher will tell you, this piece must reach a point where the technical aspects are "mechanical" for you. Once you've reached that point, the piece's expressive elements do seem to become clear.

Best of luck :)

[JazzyB279]

I just got the sheet music for this yesterday; I need to play this movement for the Northeastern District auditions.

I am now in love with Jacobi and his music after hearing these three movements.

[Joel418]

It is a very enjoyable piece! Best of luck with your auditions :)

[LithgowlovesBJ]

what a great piece of music the jacobi was one of my favorite pieces in my rep.

[alms07]

It feels rushed and I don't think he does enough with the melodic line

[Joel418]

The artist was quoted at a press conference today, saying:

"Pppppppppppppbt (*raspberry*)"

:)

[freemodulation]

I disagree. I find the piano part to be simpler by far than most piano parts in the rep.