![]() Andy Scott’s double saxophone concerto Dark Rain will be performed in Amsterdam this month. Soloists Erik-Jan de With and Linda Arnoldus will perform the award-winning work, arranged for fanfare orchestra by Jos Dobbelstein, with the Gelders Fanfare Orkest in an afternoon concert on Sunday 22 March. The event, ‘Blowing in the Beurs’, will take place at 3.00pm at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. Dark Rain is one of Andy Scott’s most powerful and moving works. It was inspired by a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where Andy was struck by both the devastation that mankind can inflict on itself and its overwhelming quest for peace. The groundbreaking double concerto won the brass band and wind band category of the prestigious British Composer Awards in 2006. Dark Rain has often been performed in the UK and internationally, including in Slovenia, Hong Kong, the United States, Australia, Spain, and previously in the Netherlands. The piece was composed for John Harle and Rob Buckland, who can be heard playing it with the RNCM Wind Orchestra on Gameshow, Rob Buckland’s recently released CD, available from Sospiro Records. Andy Scott’s works are published by Astute Music Click to visit the Beurs van Berlage website Click to visit the Sospiro Records website
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![]() Works by Andy Scott that feature in the Associated Board saxophone syllabus can now be seen and heard in a new series of videos released today. The collection of 15 videos of exam pieces by Andy Scott and Rob Buckland can be viewed on the Astute Music YouTube channel, performed by students at the Royal Northern College of Music junior department. The pieces by Andy include original works such as Fujiko, And Everything Is Still and Zebra Crossing and arrangements of works by Schubert and Brahms. There is a similar mix of original works and arrangements by Rob Buckland, and all works are published by Astute Music, covering repertoire options from Grades 1 to 7. The videos were filmed and edited by Joe Mace with sound recording by Mark White. The performers were saxophonists Jess Gillam, Jess Mitchell, Joey Skinner, Jodie Buckland and James Gordon, and pianist James Orrell. Sponsorship was generously provided by Alphasax, Trevor James and Yanagisawa. Click to visit Andy’s Blog to hear all about the video recordings in his own words Andy Scott’s works are published by Astute Music Click to view these works on the Astute Music YouTube channel Click to view the ABRSM Saxophone syllabus You know when you come up with an idea, and think it’s great, then there’s the reality of how much work it will take and the temptation is to forget about it…..
Well I’m glad that I followed this particular project through, because although it’s been a huge amount of organizing, time and effort, it has been a real pleasure to work with everyone involved. The project was to create 15 videos, of saxophone students at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music, performing pieces that are composed by Rob Buckland and myself, published by Astute Music, and which all feature on the ABRSM saxophone syllabus. I’d just like to share a little background here on my blog, as it’s been quite a journey to reach the point of public release of these videos! Over the last couple of years I’ve undertaken some teaching at JRNCM, which I’ve now handed over to my colleague Carl Raven, and on Saturday mornings I had an opportunity to witness first hand the great positivity and energy that accompanies hundreds of young musicians coming to somewhere like the RNCM on a weekly basis. The young students have lessons, on their instrument(s), theory, musicianship, play in ensembles such as big band, brass band, orchestras etc., and there is a real buzz around the building. Parents bring their children to Manchester, quite a few of them driving 2+ hours, with parents setting up their laptops in the refectory from 9.30am until 4.30pm! The students and teachers all have huge respect for the lady that coordinates and organizes JRNCM, Karen Humphreys. She does a fantastic job, and her personality is reflected in my opinion on the whole building and everyone in it on Saturdays, a fine balance of professionalism, hard working ethic, enjoyment of music and of other people’s company, and respecting others. Karen has been fully supportive of the saxophone video project from day one, suggesting that James Orrell played piano for the sax students (himself a JRNCM student at the time), and logistically made sure that everything ran smoothly for the students, as we wanted to provide them with the experience of recording and filming in as non-pressurised an environment as possible. Then experience and contacts kick in…… I’m fortunate enough to be able to undertake projects of this nature with Joe Mace filming events, and Mark White recording them. We’ve undertaken a number of projects together and they’re both highly skilled at their respective jobs, and great fun to work with! There were a number of overheads involved in this project and it became apparent that sponsorship was a necessity. The saxophone companies Alphasax, Trevor James & Yanagisawa all came on board, and instruments were sent to the JRNCM a fortnight before recording for the students to get used to (the feel, sound etc.). Recording on an instrument that isn’t yours is quite a tall order for a younger player, and they all just got on with it and did the business! Parents kindly gave up more time and brought the JRNCM saxophone students that were involved in this project to the college on a Sunday morning, and we gradually worked our way through all fifteen pieces. Then the editing process started, and then proofing, and writing credits. All of this takes times, and then videos were sent round to sponsors and JRNCM for approval. Now they’re all done, and I’d like to publically say a big thank you to the students involved – Jess Gillam, Jess Mitchell, Joey Skinner, Jodie Buckland and James Gordon – you were all great! A massive thank you to James Orrell who was a brilliant accompanist, and to Karen & Louise at JRNCM. Also thanks to Joe & Mark, Lauren, Astute Music and our sponsors Alphasax, Trevor James and Yanagisawa. Surely it would have been easier if Rob & I played our pieces? Yes it would, but who wants to see and listen to us when we’ve got such talented young musicians at the JRNCM! I hope that you enjoy watching and listening to the videos, and that they may be useful to saxophonists worldwide who are wondering which pieces to choose to play for an ABRSM saxophone exam?! Please click on the link to go to the videos; https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQQ-HN5HHaSsEH-vgjqorM3ENZrMIgXYg Caliente, Andy Scott’s flute, harp and tenor saxophone trio, will be giving two concerts in Cheshire this month.
Caliente will give a performance for Rochdale Music Society in Oldham on 21 March, followed by a concert in the popular Sandbach Concert Series on 25 March. Both programmes will include a carefully selected range of enjoyable, stimulating and accessible music, including works bv Milhaud, Ibert, Fauré, Piazzolla, Telemann and Chick Corea as well as original works and arrangements by Andy Scott made specially for the ensemble. Caliente is Clare Soutworth (flute), Lauren Scott (harp) and Andy Scott (tenor saxophone). Exploring the dynamic between composer and performer, Caliente performs music specially written by Andy Scott, alongside works by 20th Century composers with a special focus on France. Three consummate performers and experienced educators present an engaging, stimulating and accessible event, rooted in classical music with jazz influences. Click to visit the Caliente website Click to visit the Rochdale Music Society website Click to visit the Sandbach Concert Series website Apollo Saxophone Quartet will be giving the opening performance at the Bangor Music Festival this month.
The evening concert will take place on 4 March at the city’s Reichel Hall. The programme will feature a selection of the ensemble’s commissions from their 30 year history, including the very popular music for silent film composed by members of the quartet, past and current. The music by composers such as Django Bates, Keith Tippett, Dinuk Wijeratne, Graham Fitkin and Barbara Thompson, can also be heard on the recent CD release Perspectives. The groundbreaking Apollo Saxophone Quartet has been at the forefront of the British contemporary music scene for over 25 years. The ensemble has made the largest single contribution to the repertoire for saxophone quartet in the UK, commissioning and premiering well over one hundred works. The ensemble comprises founder members Rob Buckland (soprano) and Andy Scott (tenor), and more recent additions Carl Raven (alto) and Jim Fieldhouse (baritone). The Bangor Music Festival, now in its 15th year, is Wales’ leading contemporary music festival. It has a strong commitment to presenting artist of the highest musical calibre and to enriching and educating the North Wales community through workshops and concerts. This year’s programme promises to be the most diverse and exciting to date, with events ranging from electroacoustic to jazz, and from progressive rock to experimental contemporary. Click to visit the Apollo Saxophone Quartet website Click to hear the Apollo Saxophone Quartet Perspectives sampler Click to visit the Bangor Music Festival website Andy Scott will be leading saxophone days in Shrewsbury and Bedford this month.
The Shrewsbury School Saxophone Day will take place on Sunday 8 March in the lovely surroundings of Shrewsbury School. This annual event offers participants the opportunity to work with Andy Scott and Rob Buckland in workshops, masterclasses and ensemble sessions throughout the day. There is also the chance to share the stage with Apollo Saxophone Quartet in an evening concert on the day. The Bedford Saxophone Day will follow a week later on Sunday 15 March at Putnoe Primary School. Andy Scott will be leading workshops on this full day event for saxophone enthusiasts, which takes place for the first time this year. Andy will lead participants through some of his music scored for large saxophone choir in the morning, then in the afternoon he will focus on some of his SaxAssault charts with rhythm section. Click for more information about the Shrewsbury event Click for more information about the Bedford event |
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