Expert: David Froom - 11/12/2003

Question
Hi,

I am doing a report on saxophone transcriptions in my baroque history class.  What in your opinion as a composer, is the hardest part of creating a Baroque saxophone transcription?  Perhaps you've never created something like this so I'll ask another question.  What are the main considerations when trancribing something from the Baroque period?

Thanks, any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi,

I have not done any saxophone transcriptions, although I have written for saxophone -- and I have heard some wonderful Baroque saxophone transcriptions.  My favorite is a CD by the Aurelia Quartet of Scarlatti keyboard sonatas.

What makes this CD so wonderful is that the Aurelia (who did their own transcriptions) didn't try to imitate Baroque instruments.  That would be impossible anyway on the saxophone.  They tried instead to get themselves into the spirit of the music, and then reimagine it for saxophone quartet.  They tried to bring the best of what a saxophone quartet could offer to the spirit of Scarlatti's keyboard music.  Part of why this worked is that the music was NOT already for wind instruments -- so it did not remind us of something we'd rather be listening to, coming up a pale imitation of authentic instruments.  Instead, by moving from keyboard music to saxophone, they were, in a sense, more free to bring out the best qualities of the saxophone.  Finally, they faced the challenge of taking keyboard writing, which slides freely from one line to two-part counterpoint, to melody with chords, and reconceiving it for four instruments, each with its own sound personality.  

Those are my thoughts.  If you don't know this Aurelia recording, you should go get it.  It is widely available on the web.  It is, I think, probably the best example of how you can transcribe Baroque music for saxophone and do everything exactly right.  In fact, people I know who love these pieces for keyboard are fascinated, impressed, and greatly appreciate this recording.

David Froom