Rutgers Saxophone Orchestra spring 2024 sampler

The Rutgers Saxophone Orchestra played a spectacular concert April 16 featuring classic band and orchestra works as well as contemporary original music. We began with a terrific arrangement by Audrey Cupples of Robert Russel Bennet’s “Suite of Old American Dances”, the great band classic. Orchestral works included the “Suite from Our Town” by Copland (my arrangement) and Smetana’s “Dance of the Comedians” arranged by Gary Bricault.
It was especially festive to hear the contrabass (Eb Tubax) and the sopranino in the ensemble, giving the group an heightened color and tonal depth that added to the richness of the music.
These classics were contrasted by two dynamic original works for saxophone.
Jarod Apple was featured as soloist on Susan Botti’s “Murmurations”, an evocative three movement work for saxophone and saxophone ensemble (an outgrowth of her saxophone concerto for saxophone and wind ensemble). Jarod returned as conductor with an exciting rendition of Joel Love’s “Three Images”.
The video is a concert sampler; excerpts of all the pieces. The full concert is available if interested.
I hope you enjoy the music!
Paul Cohen

[@OliviaSNava]

Wonderful performances! Very clean, lovely sound.