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FRArkansas Saxophones performance
Website(s) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArkansasSaxophones/
Arkansas Saxophones, a large saxophone ensemble that performs annually at the Arkansas Bandmasters Convention will perform two transcribed works and two new commissions by B. Rhodes and J. Reed.
Biography
The Arkansas Saxophones was founded in 2000 as a large saxophone ensemble with the primary purpose to perform for the Arkansas Bandmasters annual convention. The group includes university saxophone professors, pubic school music teachers, college students and amateur players from the state of Arkansas. The group performed at the World Saxophone Congresses in Thailand and in Scotland. Repertoire for the ensemble includes both transcribed and original works for saxophone choir. Jackie Lamar, Professor of Saxophone at the University of Central Arkansas coordinates and conducts the ensemble.
More information
The Arkansas Saxophones has commissioned two Arkansan composers to write works to premier at the World Saxophone Congress 2015. Brian Rhodes, from Rison, Arkansas, composed “Espionage” for the Arkansas Saxophones. Brian completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Central Arkansas where he studied with Dr. Jackie Lamar. He received his Master of Music degree in saxophone performance at McNeese State University in Louisiana where he studied saxophone with Rick Condit and composition with Keith gates. Rhodes has published many works with Twin Towers Music Publications including accessible works for wind band and jazz ensemble. Many of his compositions were recently selected for inclusion on the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association Required Concert Contest Music list. Mr Rhodes is the Director of Bands at Booneville, Arkansas. “Espionage” for saxophone choir is a one movement suite of spy songs that is composed in three distinct sections. Section one is subtitled “Chaos and Theme” where an atonal improvisation is followed by the statement of the prevailing theme. Section two is subtitled “Scene and Chase.” The scene depicted is reminiscent of the great jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne” quickly followed by a fast rock chase-like section. The final section is a restatement of the main theme and comes to a crashing conclusion. Joshua Reed, from Cabot, Arkansas, holds the Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Central Arkansas and the Master of Music in Composition from the University of Arkansas. He has studied saxophone with Jackie Lamar, Stan Morris, and Kenneth Futterer and composition with Robert Mueller, Paul Dickinson and Philip Parker. His new composition, “Kinesis” is a fast-paced and energetic piece. Its melodic material is constructed out of small motivic ideas, and harmonically it is based on three pitch sets and three colorful chord clusters. The piece’s inspiration is the idea of energy itself and the ways in which it accrues and transforms. In addition to these two commissioned works, the Arkansas Saxophones propose to perform “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite March” by Karl L. King, arranged for the University of Iowa Saxophone Choir by Kevin Kastens. “Barnum and Bailey’s” is the quintessential American circus march. In 2007, as part of a sabbatical project, Jackie Lamar transcribed and arranged seven J. S. Bach Chorale Preludes from the “Orgelbuchlein.” A traditional Christmas carol, J. S. Bach’s chorale prelude based on the tune (BWV 729) is also a traditional postlude for Christmas services.