Saxophone Concerto Michael Ball

Written for the young British virtuoso Rob Buckland who gave the first performance at BASBWE '94. Although continuous, there are three contrasted movements: the first brash and argumentative, the second a wistful, gently swung nocturne linked to the sparkling finale by an extended cadenzy. It makes the ost spectacular demands on soloists' technique and musicality as well as on the instrumemnt itself - much of the cadenza boldly goes where few altos have been before. The band writing is well within the range of normal county players.