Eight Trio Shorts

This set of trios is for developing players new to working in a small ensemble and can be played by any three like saxes. A Tenor Sax part is included to also enable an Alto 1, Alto 2 and Tenor sax trio combination.

Serenity • playing and coordinating pauses in a small group

Gospel Song • playing unison rhythms in a call and response setting

Inside the Monastery • accurate counting of ties across the barline

Music Hall Waltz • four bar phrasing and playing with a lilt in triple time

Let’s Swing Together! • swing rhythms and ‘sax soli style’ close harmony playing

Cabaret Time • secure even tonging in the rhythmic accompaniment - smooth legato playing in the melody

Clippetty-Clop • articulation - staccato / tenuto pairing and smooth swing

Festive! • legato scalic runs and light tonging of repeated pitches

Odd Fruit Suite

This suite is made up of four movements: Light Blueberry, Terracotta Pomegranate, Wrinkled Quince, and Crab Apple Blossom. The unlikely nature of the titles is reflected in a slightly quirky style in the music, however, blues, jazz and pop can easily be identified in the foundation of the suite.

Under the Snow

The melodic content of this piece originally came from a word setting that evoked a gentle and still world - as the title might suggest.  The rubato in the original writing has been retained and presents a particular focus of the ensemble playing in the piece.  Another feature is the ‘sideways’ harmonic shifts which give the trio a roaming quality.  It is a fairly gentle piece which works well when programmed as a moment of repose.