Caleb Hugo; Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble: "Transition"

For more information, go to http://blog.calebhugo.com/?page_id=1500

The video is only a sample of this work.

This work features an extremely difficult saxophone part utilizing the saxophone's countless timbres, agility, and altissimo register. The performer must have an acute sense of rhythmic precision, a very strong upper range, and like any other concerto in history the soloist must be an extremely accomplished musician. There are also special effects that are particular to the woodwind family including multi-phonics and quarter tone trills.

This being my second large ensemble work it carries a few a problems that I will be fixing soon. The main problem that I am aware of is that the density of the orchestration can sometimes cause the sound to be unclear particularly in darker halls. When combined with the soloist, this can be problematic depending on timbres that the performer uses. If the performer generally has a dark sound, the soloist will be overpowered, particularly in the second movement. This can compensated for by the performer using a brighter timbre during these densely scored sections, performing in a brighter hall, telling the band to switch to one on a part, or by artificial amplification. Be sure to consult a sound engineer on how to amplify the soloist if you choose this solution.

The title of this work has two meanings. In one sense it is the representation of life in general going through change. In order to settle upon a contented state, one must not fight the changes they go through in life but rather change their attitude towards their new surroundings. It is not our circumstances that make us happy, but our attitude towards our surroundings that governs how we feel. After all, a person can have everything in the world going their way and still be unhappy. I have attempted to capture this concept with this work. My suggestion to see this in the music is to think of the saxophone as a person seeking contentment and the band as the person's environment (I hope you now see why I have chosen to not thin the orchestration).

On the other hand, this work is a perfect representation of how I have viewed life throughout the year of June 2007 through June 2008. I listen to this work and remember days and times that I assign to certain sections of the piece, some of which are documented in my journal. I will obviously not go into depth about this, but I will leave this by saying that I learned a lot that year.

In a sense you can say that this piece is about growing up; the attitudes of a person before they start to mature, the pain that is required to mature, and then finally looking at the world through eyes that are seeking deeper understanding. In any case, the work represents a person painfully transitioning into a new and better outlook on life.

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[MrSax93]

can you make a video of this song while you play the sax?

[calebjed]

No, I don't have the resources to produce and good video. Sorry. :-(

[MrSax93]

@calebjed ok, but how you played?

the other instruments aren't some program midi sounds?

[calebjed]

@MrSax93 Yeah, the band is completely synthetic. The recording is a studio production; I'm not quite that good live. I'm not into uploading stuff unless it's my best.

[MrSax93]

caleb. but are you play in this song the sax?

[calebjed]

Yep!

[MrSax93]

hugo can you post the old score for only sax free?

[ThePatriot572]

That is silly that there is a dislike on this video. I like the music, in my head figuring how it would sound with a real ensemble. Truly skilled artist. I'm glad I stumbled upon this video.

[MrSax93]

answer me plz

[MrSax93]

@calebjed ok. :(