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Saxophone Octets

The Key to the Lock
Traditional--------------------------------------------4 mins
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PaP08034
£25.00
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There is over 120 years between the reworking in this arrangement and the original notation of the version of Strawberry Fair on which it is based. The pop ballad style presents an effective account of the folk song and extends it by refracting its roots through a mainstream contemporary musical prism. Most parts get sight of the tune and Tenor 1 has a solo section marked optional ad lib à la Snake Davis. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies, O!
Traditional--------------------------------------------3¾ mins
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PaP08010
£25.00
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Research revealed conflicting information regarding the source of this traditional folksong so we can be certain only that it travelled well throughout the British Isles and quite probably beyond. This arrangement places the jaunty tune against various bridges, links and episodes that take the ensemble on a bright and breezy escapade. The returning tune needs to be played with a swagger or with attitude in the contemporary vernacular!
[Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Berceuse and Galop
Georges Bizet----------------------------------------4½ mins
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PaP08036
£25.00
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These two movements from Bizet’s Jeux D’Enfants offer a gentle and expressive start with the Berceuse (La Poupée) and a fast and energetic ending with the Galop (Le Bal).
The Berceuse presents the developing octet with two interesting challenges, playing quietly and playing in a moderate 6/8 time. Also this movement is a good introduction to chamber music playing skills with the musical material being presented in many different pairings within the eight saxes.
The Galop is the finale of Bizet’s original and is full of fire, fun and sparkle and needs nimble fingers and light tongues. A great show-off ending before the interval or other section of your programme. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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They Didn't Believe Me
Jerome Kern-----------------------------------------4½ mins
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PaP08035
£23.00
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Since publishing They Didn't Believe Me arranged for saxophone sextet we received a number of requests for an octet version and our initial ‘quick-fix’ solution seems to work so well we are offering it here in our octet listings.  This saxophone octet, then, is the sextet version supplied with a duplicate baritone part and a new independent Soprano Sax 2 part.  All this is offered for the price of the regular sextet.  For a full description of the arrangement take a look at the sextet listings, but do come back to this page if you want to order the octet version.

     
The Saints Go Marching
Traditional----------------------------------------------3 mins
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PaP08030
£23.00
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Since publishing The Saints Go Marching arranged for saxophone sextet we received a number of requests for an octet version and our initial ‘quick-fix’ solution seems to work so well we are offering it here in our octet listings.  This saxophone octet, then, is the sextet version supplied with a duplicate baritone part and a new independent Soprano Sax 2 part.  All this is offered for the price of the regular sextet.  For a full description of the arrangement take a look at the sextet listings, but do come back to this page if you want to order the octet version.

     
Rising Sun Blues
Traditional--------------------------------------------5½ mins
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PaP08032
£25.00
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Based on the traditional folk song Rising Sun Blues this arrangement tends to focus on the bluesy aspects of the original lyrics about a life gone awry in New Orleans. Possibly the best known cover and certainly the most successful commercially was the version recorded in 1964 by the British rock group the Animals. There are two improvised solo sections in this arrangement which can be taken by Tenor 1, Alto 1 or Soprano 1. This is a great number for revealing the lighter side of your octet and useful when you need to programme something which is well recognized by a mainstream audience.

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Market Day
Adrian Budgen-----------------------------------------3 mins
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PaP08033
£25.00
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The inspiration for this piece is a bustling market scene which could be the title sequence of a movie.  Market Day can be thought of as the underscoring for that sequence.  The movie is unmade, but the music conjures up the organised chaos of a market day in a rustic idyll with children chasing the pigs and the geese around the feet of the people buying and selling.  A rotund stall holder appears in one shot, this cuts to a more tranquil corner of the market where two young people are flirting and elsewhere two old folk pass the time of day.  The music ends at the point where the principal characters are about to make their entrance.
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Pizzicati
Leo Delibes-------------------------------------------2¼ mins
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PaP08031
£25.00
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This very well known piece from Sylvia is great test of rubato playing for the ensemble - some of which is written and some of which is down to taste and interpretation. The many recordings of the piece act as a rich resource in establishing your own take, as every conductor does it differently!
This is a good piece to place between longer and more involved repertoire in your programme planning. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Stompin' at the Savoy
Benny Goodman---------------------------------------3 mins
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PaP08025
£25.00
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Benny Goodman’s medium bounce classic arranged for eight saxes. Soprano 1 takes the big solo with the option of playing a Goodman-esque written solo or using the chords to improvise. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Notturno
Alexander Borodin ---------------------------------37¾ mins
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PaP08028
£25.00
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Based on the third movement of Borodin's String Quartet No 2, this arrangement gives sight of its beautiful theme to nearly all members of the octet. This is the theme that Robert Wright and George Forest developed into This Is My Beloved for their Broadway musical Kismet in 1953. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Allegretto
Ludwig van Beethoven-----------------------------37¼ mins
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PaP08029
£25.00
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The well known themes of the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony are presented here in a very accessible arrangement for saxes. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Andrew My Boy
Tony Radford---------------------------------------33½ mins
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PaP08020
£25.00
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Originally composed in the euphoria of the birth of a first child in 1975 this piece subsequently formed part of a suite of five pieces for big-band commissioned by the Suffolk Youth Jazz Orchestra and was first performed in 1985.  Now arranged for saxophone octet it is in a light, jazz bossa nova style, the song having a basic AABA song structure.  The melodic content is spread fairly evenly through the instruments and though not excessively rhythmically complex the music does contain fairly frequent changes of time.

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Sally
Tony Radford-----------------------------------------3¾ mins
Sno(S)SAATTBB
PaP08021
£25.00
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This piece was originally a song intended for a projected school musical - Sally being the name of the heroine.  Despite the musical failing to reach completion I have always had a soft spot for this song and decided to resurrect it after more than thirty years in ‘hibernation’ and arrange it for Saxophone Octet.  It is in a light, jazz / rock - bossa nova style with a basic AABA song structure and features an optional improvised solo for Tenor 1.

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Wachet Auf
Johann Sebastian Bach------------------------------2½ mins
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PaP08016
£25.00
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Sleepers, Wake! - the well known and attractive tune in a simple arrangement for saxes. Good as a breather (for player and audience alike!) when placed alongside more challenging repertoire. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Allegro Animato
Johann Sebastian Bach--------------------------------4 mins
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PaP08012
£25.00
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A busy and dynamic arrangement of the first movement of Bach's harpsichord work, the Concerto in the Italian Style from 1735. The writing in this arrangement makes it more suited to an ensemble of intermediate standard. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Presto Giojoso
Johann Sebastian Bach------------------------------4¼ mins
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PaP08026
£25.00
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From Bach's harpsichord work, the Concerto in the Italian Style, this arrangement of the third movement offers showy moments for all members of the ensemble and really nips along. A concert good opener or finale piece. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Rondo
W A Mozart---------------------------------------------5 mins
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PaP08027
£25.00
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This is a lively arrangement of the last movement of the Serenade for Strings in G major K525 otherwise known as the Eiene Kleine Nachtmusik. A popular, well known, light and uplifting piece that is a useful addition to just about any programme. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]

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Isola del Sogno
Adrian Budgen ----------------------------------------5 mins
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PaP08009
£25.00
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A sunny relaxed latin style piece that takes its name from a tiny island in situated in one of the lakes in northern Italy. The solo section can feature Soprano 1, Alto 1 or Tenor 1. Sopranino and Bass parts are available.

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Barnet Fair
Adrian Budgen ----------------------------------------5 mins
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PaP08011
£25.00
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A happy pseudo township style first section contrasts with a blues middle section. The two written solos in the Soprano or Tenor 1 and Alto 1 can also be improvised ad lib.

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Suffolk Punch
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------4½ mins
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PaP08023
£25.00
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Marked 'strong and deliberate' this pop and jazz influenced piece can either be seen as a reference to the heavy horse or simply as a piece that makes a strong impact. There are written solos for Alto 1 and Tenor 1 which can be improvised. Suffolk Punch is a sister piece to Barnet Fair.

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Pantheon
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------4½ mins
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PaP08008
£25.00
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Subtitled 'reflections on ancient Roman symmetries', this piece opens with a driving strident theme that makes it good as an opening number. A more gentle nostalgic middle section shares a new theme around the entire ensemble. Contained within this piece is a substantial amount of antiphonal writing which, of course, only become apparent when it is performed in the round, surrounding the audience!
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Red Pepper
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------3½ mins
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PaP08001
£25.00
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Red Pepper is movement one of The Colour Charts, a five movement suite for saxes. It can be performed standalone, in sequence or in combination with any of the other movements. It is bright and upbeat and the two solo sections are in a simple single chord style that can be approached using simple modal techniques.
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Quiet Crimson
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------4½ mins
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PaP08002
£25.00
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Quiet Crimson is movement two of The Colour Charts, a five movement suite for saxes. It can be performed standalone, in sequence or in combination with any of the other movements. It is a gentle contemplative piece with a warm nostalgic feeling to it. The central section takes the form of a simple solo from Sop 1, Alto 1 or Tenor 1.
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Sky Blue
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------- 4 mins
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PaP08003
£25.00
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Subtitled 'for eight saxes flying high!' this piece has a strong and robust main theme which contrasts with the cool, simple and laid back solos. Sky Blue is movement three of The Colour Charts, a five movement suite for saxes. It can be performed standalone, in sequence or in combination with any of the other movements.
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Playing with Purple
Adrian Budgen --------------------------------------3½ mins
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PaP08004
£25.00
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Playing with Purple is quite close to Quiet Crimson in that it is a gentle movement which sits between the more energetic Sky Blue and In the Pink. It forms movement four of The Colour Charts, a five movement suite for saxes. It can be performed standalone, in sequence or in combination with any of the other movements. The main theme is quite quirky with a lilting swing.

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In the Pink
Adrian Budgen -----------------------------------------5 mins
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PaP08005
£25.00
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In the Pink starts with a gentle introduction and after a 'four on the floor' rock theme goes into a 12/8 blues shuffle for solos from Alto 1 and Tenor 1. It is movement five of The Colour Charts, a five movement suite for saxes. It can be performed standalone, in sequence or in combination with any of the other movements.

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The Colour Charts
Adrian Budgen ---------------------------------------20 mins
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PaP08006
£95.00
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Get all five movements Red Pepper, Quiet Crimson, Sky Blue, Playing with Purple and In the Pink as detailed above for less than the price of four.
 
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If Only
Adrian Budgen -----------------------------------__---4 mins
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PaP08007
£25.00
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The dreamy opening theme drifts through some primary harmonic colours. A L'istesso tempo funky middle section contrasts with this where the marking in Sop 1 is 'wild!'. The opening dream returns at the end - a classic ABA structure. This is also available as a sax quartet and sax quintet.
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Prince of Denmark
Adrian Budgen ---------------------------------__---5¼ mins
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PaP08017
£25.00
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A strong slow riff sets up a fairly dark atmosphere which could be seen to be a reference to Shakespeare's tragedy. Actually the title derives from a rather humorous family misquotation which is far too involved to explain here. There are opportunities for solos from first Sop, Alto, Tenor or Bari.
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The Holly and the Ivy
Traditional----------------------------------------__---3 mins
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PaP08018
£25.00
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An arrangement of the traditional Christmas tune using rich jazz harmonies to create a cool and dreamy version of a well known seasonal melody. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]
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Jingle Bells
James Pierpont --------------------------------__---3¾ mins
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PaP08019
£25.00
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An arrangement that approaches the familiar melody using light swing rhythms and jazz harmony to produce an attractive and unique slant on the Christmas tune. Two short solo sections (optional ab lib) feature Sop 1 and Alto 1. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]
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Good King Wenceslas Looked Out
Traditional--------------------------------------__---3½ mins
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PaP08022
£25.00
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This quirky and uplifting arrangement of the familiar carol is almost a morris dance in its style. Tenor sax 1 and Alto sax 1 are featured with written solos that can be improvised if preferred. The simple but effective material at the heart of the arrangement make it a good piece to programme between more involved items. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]
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New Year's Night
Traditional--------------------------------------__---4½ mins
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PaP08024
£25.00
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This arrangement is based on the Welsh Winter Carol Nos Galan and is subtitled '... fill the mead cup, raise the wassail ...' which is a quote from the words of carol. However, the opening line of the carol is 'Deck the hall with boughs of holly' which may be more familiar and be more useful in revealing the underlying tune. A pastoral style bound together with some warm harmony creates a cosy mid-winter atmosphere. [Arranged by Adrian Budgen]
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