Day 324
Richard Rodney Bennett: Saxophone concerto
John Harle
Opus 20 String Ensemble
I have a vague memory of hearing some by Richard Rodney Bennett as a student but whatever it was hasn’t stuck in the memory. Other than that I think that the only music of his I will have heard will be some of his film scores - famously of course Murder on the Orient Express.
This saxophone concerto was written for John Harle, who plays it in this performance. I enjoyed it a lot. The saxophone is not an instrument I am naturally attracted to - to me the rather oily sound can be off putting, but here the composer has been very skilful in the way that he has written for the instrument so we get to hear a more attractive side of the instrument. The work is not too long - some composers seem to have no idea that they have outstayed their welcome - and the soloists is given plenty of chance to shine but virtuosity never gets in the may of the musical invention. There is plenty of rhythmic energy in the outer movements - the first especially, balanced by some attractive melodic material. All in all a good piece and one which probably exceeded my expectations - I don’t think that I would ever otherwise have listened to a saxophone concerto if it wasn’t for this project.
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