Concertante for Alto Sax & Band Op. 42 by Clare Grundman

[howtokillarockstar]

wow, I guess Im super late, but dear you sound nice[: Im an alto player mysef, how old are you in this video?

[saxophoney]

I was 16, which was three years ago. This was the performance of the first concerto competition I'd won. I had the chance to perform it one other time for another concerto competition two years later.Thanks for listening and for commenting.

[martin10pb]

Hey Phil great job at this solo. I was wondering if you knew where i could find a recording of this to download to my Zune??

[saxophoney]

The only recording I've heard is by Dale Underwood. The piece was dedicated to him by Clare Grundman. His CD is on his web site, but I don't know if you can get it as an mp3 download off of Amazon or some place like that. You'd need to search it. Thanks for listening.

[BrOwNdillon]

Amazing performance. What kind of horn is that?

[saxophoney]

Thanks a lot. I play on a Selmer Mark vi

[saxophoney]

I play a Selmer Mark vi, with a Selmer s90-180 mouth piece and Vandoren blue 3.5 reeds. It plays really well for me. Thanks for listening!

[mongooserider90]

hi phil. as a former alto saxophone player and now a tenor player, i can really appreciate your sound. its really good! Actually i am critiquing this piece for my midterm in band. Our teacher reccommended it to the saxes to critique. Would you mind telling me what things you did to improve your sound and technical so you could play the way you did. in other words, what did you focus on???

[saxophoney]

My teacher always strived to work on musicality, tone, and emotion. Once the technical part is there, the notes need to turn into "music" . A machine can play the notes and 'we sing through our horns' he says. I've listened to Londeix and Rousseau a lot and try to emulate the beauty of their sound. Thanks for the nice comments!

[andrewtswong]

Really good!

Wish i can play like that one day!

[saxophoney]

Thanks a lot!

[saxnsport]

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE!!!

That was excellent! I am currently studying this composition for a trinity exam and was wondering how long you practice each day to maintain such a great level of performance!

I loved the vibrato not at all 'raspy'!!

Please reply as I am curiious to my quiery!

[saxophoney]

Thanks!If you have time,watch my other performance of the Grundman which I think is better.I practiced this piece for several months to get ready for the performance as 30 minutes portion of my daily practice routine.The published band piece doesn't have the great ending that the piano reduction has, as it was recorded by Dale Underwood.This was Grundman's only concerto piece written for a solo instrument.The most challenging parts are the altissimo passages and the double tonguing.Cheers!

[navymuret]

WOW! You are excellent! Only 16!? Who is your teacher and how often are your lessons? Awesome classical vibrato; what is your regimen for practicing it (its not a breath vibrato is it?). Where will you attend college at (if you're not already)?

[saxophoney]

Thanks a lot.I study with Prof. Larry Sheets in WI and am now a HS senior.My teacher(he's old) has studied with Fred Hemke,Larry Teal, & Don Sinta.My training has been very "french"as is my vibrato(jaw).I'm proud that I've met and played for Londeix and Rousseau who are both nice men.I'm getting college apps. together now and am planning on applying at mid-west schools that have a top profs.ofsax:Lawrence-WI;UWI-Wh­itewater;UofIowa;

UofIChampagne;Ind.U.Please check my other videos!Thanks again.

[navymuret]

You're very welcome, Phil. I am a retired Navy bandsman (hence the screen name). Just curious if you have ever played or heard a recording of "Sonata d'etude" by Pierre Max Dubois.  I have worked on that piece for years and it still needs alot of work! I have tried and failed to locate a single recording of it (its for solo alto). I'm sure you've heard/played Dubois' concerto for alto sax and orchestra (on the '71 Rousseau recording). Anyway keep up the great work!

[bcv1990]

you're a fantastic saxophonist. i really enjoyed listening to this piece. I'm actually soloing with my high school band in may and am currently looking for a piece to play. was this piece a rental, or were you able to purchase it?

[awattsandre007]

Nice song you chose, but i was wondering what mouth peice you were using. It ha s good control but a little raspy. But over all yourr pretty good

^___^

[saxophoney]

Raspy? First time I've heard that one. It's an S90 on a Mark VI. Thanks for listening.

[awattsandre007]

No offense though, you can ignore my (-) comment. Its prob. cause my audio.

I am currently practicing this peice to play with the Ann Arbor Concert band, and listening to you is a great help. I plan to put the vid on here sometime.

You should check out Fantasia by Claud T. Smith, great peice and very hard.

[AJ88888]

Nice playing. Generally well handled. Check out Dale Underwood's recording of him playing it - It was written for Dale. (Dale also plays all optional parts) Then give a copy of the cd to the conductor. Intro was way too fast! Good effort on double tonguing ;)Try the altissimo E at the end too. I use D, E & F keys down in the right hand with octave key. Nice altissimo A & D in first section. I enjoyed your performance.  Keep going!

[saxophoney]

Thanks! Dale Underwood is great.I chose this piece after listening to the Underwood version. The band arragnement available doesn't include the Underwoord recording ending, which was a little disappointing.

[JSB1983]

excellent technique but very ready and bright tone

[saxophoney]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[Imperialnews]

nice job

[JSB1983]

for the record I meant reedy