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Posted

I've reached a point in my life where my school conductor no longer has any solos at my skill level. My instructor focuses more on jazz than classical. I need alto and tenor sax solo recommendations. Below is the hardest piece I have right now (well, I'd consider Jacobi's Sonata for Eb Alto Sax and Piano the hardest, but it's too long for me to take pictures of).

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/6933/slavonicfantasy1gg9.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6057/slavonicfantasy2om4.jpg

What are some solos for both alto and tenor saxophone that would bump up the difficulty level a bit? Oh, and the solo should, if possible, be on this list (alto sax solos start on page 30, with tenor sax solos after).

  • 8 months later...
Posted

I've played the Gurewich Concerto(3rd mvmt), which is a grade 6, not entirely difficult, but really fun.

The Creston Sonata(mvmt 2 and 3), which is probably the hardest technical piece I've played.

The Glazonouv Concerto is probably the hardest piece I've played. I'm still working on getting it down. It definitely presents a good musical and technical challenge.

Right now, I'm working on Milhaud's "Scaramouche." It is a grade 7 which is overall probably not as hard as the Glazonouv, but it has individual sections which are extremely difficult.

The Ibert I have seen and heard, but haven't played. I know it is a difficult technical piece, and one part has some nasty altissimo.

The hardest one that I have ever seen and ever will see is the Denisov Sonate. It is a 7** and is just ridiculous. It's changing between strange time signatures every measure, and is seemingly random. I haven't heard a recording of this one, but I want to. If you want a challenge, this one will give you that and more.

[edit] I forgot to mention that these are all for alto.

Posted

the series of improvisations by Ryo Noda, while looking like nothing on paper, can be hard to play properly. but the great thing about them is that for certain aspects of them, you can listen to two different sax players and get two different interpretations while both being correct in their own way.

they are for unaccompanied sax, and when well performed, can be gorgeous pieces.

I heard the Denisov Sonata live once when I was 14, the one thing I would say or rather warn about is... make sure your pianist has the skill and experience to play such a piece before even thinking about it.

The Creston Sonata can be a pain for some pianists, but its like playing a xmas tune compared to the Denisov.

as for whats on your list, lets see..

most seem to be arrangements but if its the one I think it is, the Rapsodie by Debussy is a beautiful piece.

and also remember that difficult does not mean very fast or allot of notes, some of the hardest pieces I've played are hard because of their musicality and not because of their technical passages

the heiden sonata is alright, albeit performed a little too often I find

The Creston sonata sounds nice, isn't all that hard, but will provide a good workout and training while you play it.

however, I suggest you stay away from his Rapsodie, its ugly as ...

Concertino Da Camera is a beautiful piece, but easy to butcher if you try it before you have the necessary technique to play it,

I'll try to think of more if I can but I have to leave in a few minutes

Hope this helped a bit

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