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FRFour Saxes by Carleton Macy
The New Specs Quartet is formed of students from Ashland, Oregon. Directed by Dr Rhett Bender, they present « Four Saxes », by Carleton Macy, a piece inspired by funk and r&b.
Biography
The New Specs Quartet is a saxophone quartet at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, USA. This group formed in 2012. Since then, there have been a couple personnel changes. Daniel Chavez, who originally played tenor, came back to the quartet to fill the role as the baritone player. Yu Yang, who started on alto, now plays tenor saxophone. The new addition to the group is Chen Xi, who plays alto. Hope Erickson, soprano saxophone, is the only member who has played the same instrument since 2012.
New Specs Quartet has performed at various regional music conferences and student recitals. They have participated in master classes with Aurelia Saxophone Quartet and Oasis Saxophone Quartet. The members also perform with the Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra.
More information
“Four Saxes” was commissioned by Becky Heist and the Macalester College Dance Ensemble. The saxophone quartet set up in the middle of the stage and the dancers danced around them. Two of the five movements use styles borrowed from R&B and funk. Four Saxes is recorded on “The Sax Ascendant” INNOVA 109, published by the American Composers Forum.