EN
FRJohn Sampen Performs György Kurtág
Website(s) : http://www.johnwsampen.com
A saxophone version of György Kurtág’s English horn composition IN NOMINE, which commemorates the assassination of a 20th century Hungarian general and played by John Sampen.
Biography
As one of America’s leading concert saxophonists, John Sampen is particularly recognized as a distinguished artist in contemporary literature. He has commissioned over one hundred twenty-five new works and has soloed with ensembles from all over the world. Sampen has recorded with Belgian and Swiss National Radio and is represented on multiple record labels. A clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company, he has presented masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. In addition to contemporary literature, Sampen performs traditional repertoire with pianist/composer Marilyn Shrude. Dr. Sampen is currently a Distinguished Artist Professor at Bowling Green State University and is Past President of the North American Saxophone Alliance.
More information
John Sampen Performs György Kurtág
IN NOMINE: all ‘ongherese (2001/2012) György Kurtág
…ein SAPPHO FRAGMENT (1999) György Kurtág
HOMMAGE A ELLIOTT CARTER (2000) György Kurtág
Capriccio & Arioso (World Premiere on Saxophone
A student of Messiaen and Milhaud, the Hungarian/Romanian composer György Kurtág was a close friend and collaborator of György Ligeti. Kurtág is especially known for the exploitation of his extraordinary soft dynamics in his piano and chamber works. Marilyn Shrude and John Sampen had the honor of meeting this 87 year-old composer in 2012 near Bordeaux, France. As is always the case when meeting important composers, Sampen immediately asked Kurtág for a saxophone work. Because the composer was currently writing an opera for the Saltzburg Festival, he could not accept a commission but he suggested a saxophone version of his English horn composition IN NOMINE: all ‘ongherese which commemorates the assassination of a 20th century Hungarian general.
Other saxophone versions of existing works were later approved by the composer, including … ein SAPPHO FRAGMENT, which presumably refers to surviving fragments of poetry composed by the ancient Greek female poet Sappho. The HOMMAGE A ELLIOTT CARTER honors the great American composer who became a model for so many international composers. The proposed performance in Strasbourg includes these three works, including the saxophone world premiere of HOMMAGE.