Harborough sax group joins Rugby Recorders for unique concert
The concert took place on Sunday 19 July at St Andrew’s Church in Rugby
Market Harborough’s Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra took part in a unique concert recently, when they travelled to Rugby for a joint concert with the Rugby Recorder Ensemble.
The concert, which took place on Sunday 19 July at St Andrew’s Church in Rugby, saw 27 musicians performing music from the 16th Century to the modern day on 14 different instruments – six types of saxophone, ranging from sopranino to bass, and eight types of recorder, ranging from sopranino to sub great bass.
The concert featured separate ensemble pieces from Rugby Recorders and Phoenix, plus the world premiere performance of Steve Marshall’s ‘Concertino’, a concerto for recorders and solo soprano saxophone, played by Samuel Beddard, and with the composer in the audience!
Although recorders and saxophones are centuries apart – with recorders dating back to pre-1100 and the saxophone being patented in 1846 – the instruments worked really well together, both for the Concertino and also the final number, Viadana’s Sinfonia ‘La Bergamasca’ (1610), an antiphonal piece which saw the recorders and saxophones playing in separate choirs at opposite end of the church.
Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra’s Jane Smith said: “This was an entirely new collaboration for Phoenix, but one which came together beautifully. The very different sounds and styles of the recorders and saxophones resulted in a varied programme of music for the audience to enjoy. From Byrd to The Beatles and Viadana to Van Morrison, there really was something for everyone, and the two joint pieces ably demonstrated what a versatile instrument the saxophone can be. It is certainly one to remember.”
The concert raised £500 for Rugby’s Myton Hospice.
You can find videos and photographs from the concert on Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra’s website at phoenixsax.org.uk/rugby. For more information about Rugby Recorders, see carolinejones.info