Saxophone Quartet

Summary

A saxophone quartet is a chamber music ensemble consisting of four saxophonists who work together to create rich harmonic textures and intricate musical dialogues. The traditional configuration features a carefully balanced combination of instruments: a soprano saxophone handling the highest melodic lines, an alto saxophone providing upper harmonies, a tenor saxophone contributing middle-range warmth, and a baritone saxophone establishing the foundational bass voice.

This ensemble format has earned widespread recognition for its remarkable versatility and distinctive tonal palette, demonstrating exceptional flexibility across diverse musical genres spanning from classical repertoire to contemporary jazz compositions. The saxophone's unique acoustic properties - its ability to seamlessly integrate with other instruments while maintaining its characteristic voice - combined with the quartet's balanced instrumentation, has established this ensemble format as a preferred medium for composers and arrangers seeking to explore both traditional and innovative musical expressions.

Instrumentation

1 Soprano Saxophone

1 Alto Saxophone

1 Tenor Saxophone

1 Baritone Saxophone

Notable Works for Saxophone Quartet

• Alexander Glazunov: Saxophone Quartet Op. 109 (1932)

  • A pioneering work in the classical saxophone quartet repertoire.

• Eugène Bozza: Andante et Scherzo (1938)

  • A staple of the saxophone quartet repertoire known for its lyrical qualities.

• Jean-Baptiste Singelée: Premier Quatuor Op. 53 (1857)

  • One of the earliest works written specifically for saxophone quartet.

• Alfred Desenclos: Quatuor pour Saxophones (1964)

  • Important French contribution to the genre.

• Steve Reich: New York Counterpoint (arr. for saxophone quartet) (1985)

  • Popular minimalist work adapted for saxophones.

• Iannis Xenakis: XAS (1987)

  • Avant-garde work pushing technical boundaries.

• Philip Glass: Concerto for Saxophone Quartet (1995)

  • Contemporary minimalist work showcasing quartet possibilities.

• Michael Torke: July (1995)

  • Contemporary work with minimalist influences.

• Jennifer Higdon: Short Stories (1996)

  • Collection of varied movements for saxophone quartet.

• David Maslanka: Mountain Roads (1997)

  • Significant modern American contribution to the genre.

• Thierry Escaich: Le Bal (1998) Modern French work exploring extended techniques.

• William Bolcom: Concerto Grosso (2000) Contemporary American work blending classical and popular styles.

Sources

• The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet

• The Art of Quartet Playing by David Blum

• The String Quartet: A History by Paul Griffiths

• Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

• International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

• The Saxophone Quartet: An Introduction to the Saxophone Family by Jean-Marie Londeix

• The Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone

• The Development of the Modern Saxophone by Stephen Cottrell

• The Oxford History of Western Music by Richard Taruskin