Nova Saxophone Quartet

Rapsodie for Saxophone (arr. for quartet)

May 27, 2009 – 2:48 am

Greg Knapp’s stunning transcription and arrangement of Claude Debussy’s work composed for saxophone soloist and orchestra is far more exciting than the original, often criticized as an uninspired effort. This arrangement was informed by original orchestral recordings and the unorchestrated piano/soloist score. The orchestral reduction that includes significant soloist passages pushes the skills of the quartet to its limits both technically and musically. The work was recorded by the Nova Saxophone Quartet on their InNOVAtions recording available in digital download format from Cd Baby.

Instrumentation: SATB
Grade Level: Difficult

A RickLawn.Com Exclusive!!

Buy now for $40.00

(misc-008) This arrangement will hopefully be available soon in manuscript form.

Outside the Box – Nova Saxophone Quartet

February 1, 2009 – 7:24 pm

Outside the Box, Nova’s most recent CD was released on the Equilibrium label and features new works by Rick Lawn (Three Sketches for Saxophone Quartet) and Mike Titlebaum as well as classic works arranged for quartet ranging from J.S. Bach to Paul Hindemith, Russell Howland and Rudy Wiedoeft. In some cases the music featured on this recording can be purchased either from this web site or a commercial publisher. Links for music that can be purchased are included below.

Personnel: Douglas Skinner, Soprano; Richard Lawn, Alto; Gregory Wilson, Tenor, Joey Colarusso, Baritone

TRACKS

1. Russell Howland:

Quartet No.

I. First Movement

II. Second Movement

III. Third Movement

2. J. S. Bach:

Contrapunctus VII

3. Mike Titlebaum:

Prelude and Wobbly Dance (beginning and ending excerpts)

4. Paul Hindemith (arr. G.W. Knapp):

Seven Interludes from Ludus Tonalis

I. Allegro pesante

II. Moderato – III. Molto tranquillo

IV. Scherzo

V. Pastorale

VI. Vivace

VII. Marcia

5. Rudy Wiedoeft (arr. Richard Lawn):

Sax-O-Doodle publication available as a Rick Lawn.com Exclusive!!

6.Richard Lawn:

Three Sketches for Saxophone Quartet

I. Outside the Box

II. Old Friends

III. Mother Nature

Purchase from Amazon or Dorn.

Double Image – Nova Saxophone Quartet

February 1, 2009 – 7:23 pm

This recording, the quartet’s third and second initially released on the Musical Heritage Society, is now available exclusively from this web site! A number of titles on this recording are being offered for sale in the misc. music section of this web site. Scores and parts available here for purchase will be cross linked to the sample recordings that follow. Thanks for listening!

Personnel: Douglas Skinner, Alto and Soprano; Richard Lawn, Alto and Yamaha WX-7; Gregory Wilson, Tenor; James Warth, Baritone

TRACKS

1. G.W. Knapp:

Quartet in C Minor

I. Introduction and Allegro knapp1-clip

II. Sostenuto knapp2-clip

III. Scherzo knapp3-clip

IV. Rondo Pastorale knapp4-clip

2. Richard Willis:

Tetralogue

I. Fantasia willistetralogue1-clip

II. Scherzino willistetrlogue3-clip

III. Arioso willistetralogue2-clip

IV. Corrente willistetralogue4-clip

3. Hoagy Carmichael/Bix Beiderbeck (arr. Don Elam):

Riverboat Shuffle riverboatshuffle-clip

4. Jelly Roll Morton (arr. Rick Lawn):

Black Bottom Stomp blackbottom-clip

5. Charlie Parker (Miles Davis):

Donna Lee donnalee-clip

6. Rick Lawn

Newk Meets the President newkprez-clip

We’ve decided to cut our overhead and save us both money by making this available right from this website. You can order the entire recording as downloadable MP3 files.

Buy for $10

Until further notice you will need to email me to purchase scores and parts from this recording. Only tracks 3 – 6 are available from rjlawn at gmail dot com

InNOVAtions – Nova Saxophone Quartet

February 1, 2009 – 7:22 pm

This is the second recording by the Nova Quartet with new personnel and Rick Lawn as the only constant, moving from soprano to alto. This may be the best recording available of Phil Woods first quartet especially since it includes the optional improvised extension to the first movement. The recording was first issued by the Musical Heritage with limited distribution. Rights have been reassigned to Nova and Rick Lawn so this music can once again be made available.We hope to eventually make the original manuscript version of Greg Knapp’s demanding arrangement of Debussy’s “Rapsodie,” originally composed for solo alto saxophone and orchestra. Some share the opinion that this original commission was never a great piece. Others may agree that this version for quartet is actually superior in making full use of the quartet to cover all solo and orchestral passages. This amazing work can be purchased in score and parts from this site.

Personnel: Douglas Skinner, soprano; Richard Lawn, alto; Gregory Wilson, tenor; James Warth, baritone

Tracks

1. Douglas Walter:

Saxophone Quartet No.1

I. Quintalism walter1-clip

II. Transition walter2-clip

III. Finale walter3-clip

2. Eddie Sauter:

Saxophone Quartet No. 1 (“Q.T.”) sauter-clip

3. Seymour Barab:

Quartet for Saxophones

I. Allegro moderato barab1-clip

II. Non-expressivo barab2-clip

III. Presto barab3-clip

4. Claude Debussy (trans. & arr. G.W. Knapp):

Rapsodie for Saxophone and Orchestra debussyintroend

5. Phil Woods:

Three Improvisations for Saxophone Quartet

I. woods1-clip

II. woods2-clip

II. woods3-clip

We’ve decided to cut our overhead and save us both money by making this available right from this website. You can order the entire recording as downloadable MP3 files.

Buy for $10

The Nova Saxophone Quartet (Debut Recording)

January 22, 2009 – 6:22 am

The debut recording by the Nova Quartet is still a classic featuring many of the Paris Conservatory “chestnuts” from the repertoire. All this great must is fortunately still in print and performed regularly by quartets around the globe. Music – the universal language!

Track Info	Price
1. Robert Clerisse: Introduction et Scherzo pub. by Leuc et Cie robert-clerisse-clip
2. Jean Absil Suite sue des theme populaires roumains pub. by CeBeDeM

“Allegro Vivace” absil-i-clip

“Andante con moto” absil-2-clip

“Scherzo Leggiero” absil-3-clip

“Andantino cantabile” absil-4-clip

“Rude et tres rhythme” absil-5-clip

3. Paul Pierne:

Trois Conversations pub. by Billaudot

“Conversation Amusante” three-conversation-i-clip

“Conversation Sentimentale” trois-conversation-ii-clip

“Conversation Animee” trois-conversations-iii-clip

4. Gabriel Pierne:

Introduction et Variations sur une ronde populaire g-pierne-clip (excerpt of beginning and ending)

We’ve decided to cut our overhead and save us both money by making this available right from this website. You can order the entire recording as downloadable MP3 files.

Buy for $10

Rick Lawn