Amherst Saxophone Quartet Site: Purpose

Amherst Saxophone Quartet, The Third Decade This website is a chronicle of the Amherst Saxophone Quartet’s 30 year journey. We hope the site becomes a useful resource for other saxophonists and anyone interested in building/maintaining an ensemble career in concert music.

The ASQ was founded in 1978 with the intent to be a chamber music ensemble that provided full-time employment for its musicians. Starting in 1986, the ASQ's musicians received an annual salary, health care benefits, and even a retirement plan. The Building Careers listing shares many of the techniques we used to create and sustain our quartet over the long haul.

It's been said that chamber music is "all about the repertoire." A good place to start viewing this site is the Repertoire listing. Once on that page, click on the title of a work and you will be shown any article, review, recording, video, composer biographical info, and description of that work drawn from anywhere in this site's database.

You are encouraged to use the interactive capabilities of this site to add your wisdom, insites, incites, questions, failures, and successes to the discussion! Pages on this site have an 'Add Your Comments' section at the bottom.

[Note: You can change the size of the type (and everything else on this site) by pressing 'Ctrl' and + or - .]

Latest Additions to This Site

At present there are 200 pounds of documents — complete recordings (both CDs and live performances), repertoire listings, financial data, composer biographies, program notes, Tips & Tricks, event timelines, a performance location map, concert program books, reviews, photos, and videos — that are now being added to this site. We plan to complete the process over the next several years (many pounds have already been added). Here are previews of the latest pages, click on a title to view the full page...

Windmill Saxophone Quartet

Formed in 1984 by Washington, D.C. area saxophonist, flutist, composer and arranger Clayton Englar, Windmill has developed a unique and highly eclectic sound over the years, drawing not only from jazz but classical, pop, Latin and avant-garde forms, and using a vast array of woodwind instruments: soprano to bass saxophones, flutes and clarinets.

Raschèr Saxophone Quartet

The ensemble carries on a tradition established in the 1930’s by the pioneer of the classical saxophone and founding member of the quartet Sigurd Raschèr, who animated many composers to write music especially for him.

Concerto for Saxophone Quartet (1995), Philip Glass

Glass' Concerto for saxophone quartet, dedicated to the Rascher Saxophone Quartet, can be performed in two versions, one with orchestra and the other for quartet alone.

Compass Saxophone Quartet

Combining the diverse paths of two pairs of Saxophone players, Compass Quartet – Christina Leonard, Jeremy Rose, Matthew Ottignon, Luke Gilmour – form one of the most interesting and dynamic groups to emerge in Australia’s music scene. Inspired by the idea of breaking down barriers between classical music and improvised jazz, Compass takes an innovative and flexible approach to concert programming, combining influences as that are, distinct, new and unusual.

Eclipse Saxophone Quartet

ESQ’s diverse approach to jazz standards, coupled with their own compositions and the performance of works by contemporary composers, has caught the attention of many audiences since their formation in 2001. The eclipse saxophone quartet plays in a variety of settings, from classical recitals in concert halls to modern jazz in less formal venues.

Comments

youth saxophone quartet

Submitted by Hans Axelsen (not verified) on Fri, 2011-12-09 07:57.

Hi. I have some pupils in a saxophone quartet age 20-22. I am searching for a equal quartet to have som meeting with. Can you help? And your Prokofiev: Romeo and Julie, can I buy your arrangement? Yours sincerly Hans Axelsen

About Parisi's Quintet Sound samples

Submitted by TAKASHI ONOZAWA (not verified) on Sat, 2012-01-21 13:12.

This is an amateur saxophonist in Japan.
Now, I'm searching quintet with violin and saxophone quartet
and I found Parisi's work in your homepage.
I found Parisi's quartet work in your site and heard the sound sample.
I have very interested in his works because it sounds very good and heartful.
Then, although I don't know his quintet, I have already ordered this music sheet at a Web-site.

If you can follow me, I want to hear the sound sample.

Best regards.

Steve Rosenthal

Submitted by Dave Brody (not verified) on Sun, 2012-02-12 13:54.

Steve,
I was pleased that we saw each other today. Send me your direct email address and a phone no. You can reach me on my cell at 912-9533.

Thanks for the site!

Submitted by Roger Parris (not verified) on Wed, 2012-02-15 09:30.

What a great website and tribute to the ASQ!
I hope all's well with the past and present members of the quartet. They were very important to the rich, ripe musical life in Buffalo when they were active.