CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FOR SAXOPHONE

A classical saxophone can move between warmth, brilliance, and raw expressive power — a range that has always inspired my writing. This page gathers my contemporary music for saxophone across solo works, chamber pieces, and stage music. Performers and teachers will find repertoire that explores the instrument’s color, agility, and lyrical depth.

Contemporary Music for Saxophone

The classical saxophone repertoire of the 20th and 21st centuries has grown rapidly, shaped by composers who expanded the instrument’s expressive and technical possibilities. My works for saxophone reflect this evolution, offering pieces that range from intimate solos to vibrant chamber settings. The sections below present my contributions to the saxophone repertoire across solo, chamber, and theatrical contexts.

CHAMBER MUSIC WITH SAXOPHONE

Saxophone Duos

Hidden Reflections
15' | alto saxophone and piano

Slippery Trapeze
10' | clarinet, alto saxophone and bassoon

Saxophone Quartet
for four saxophones (SATB)
15' | soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones

Saxophone Trios

Saxophone Quartets

STAGE WORKS WITH SAXOPHONE

Gitz & Spitz

for actor and chamber ensemble

50' | actor; clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon; horn; trumpet; trombone, tuba and percussion (1)

CHORAL MUSIC WITH SAXOPHONE

Nocturne

for vocal ensemble and five instruments

9' | 12 singers (SATB), soprano saxophone, clarinet, harp, guitar and percussion

Sheet Music for Classical Saxophone:

About Contemporary Saxophone Repertoire

The classical saxophone repertoire has expanded dramatically over the past century, with composers exploring new colors, extended techniques, and expressive possibilities. The list below highlights influential works for solo saxophone, saxophone and piano, chamber ensembles, and saxophone with orchestra — pieces that have become central to the 20th–21st‑century saxophone literature. This curated selection is offered as a resource for performers and teachers exploring contemporary saxophone music, alongside my own works for the instrument.

Key 20th–21st Century Saxophone Repertoire

Concerti & Works for Saxophone and Orchestra

Alexander Glazunov: Concerto in E-flat Major (1934) – A late-romantic staple for alto saxophone and strings.
Jacques Ibert: Concertino da camera (1935) – A quintessential neoclassical work for alto saxophone and eleven instruments.
Paul Creston: Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 26 (1944) – A major American concerto known for its rhythmic drive.
Ingolf Dahl: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra (1949)
Henri Tomasi: Concerto for Alto Saxophone (1949) – A dramatic and lyrical French masterpiece.
John Williams: Escapades (2002) – Based on his film score for Catch Me If You Can, this work has become a 21st-century favorite for its "cool jazz" aesthetic.
John Adams: Saxophone Concerto (2013) – A high-energy, minimalist-influenced work for alto saxophone and orchestra.

Solo & Saxophone with Piano

Claude Debussy: Rapsodie for Orchestra and Saxophone (1901) – Often performed with piano, it is a foundational Impressionist work.
Paul Bonneau: Caprice en forme de valse (1950) – A standard unaccompanied solo work showcasing technical virtuosity.
William Albright: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1984) – A complex work blending ragtime, baroque, and modern elements.
David Maslanka: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1988) – A massive, spiritually-driven cornerstone of the modern repertoire.
Takashi Yoshimatsu: Fuzzy Bird Sonata (1991) – A wildly popular fusion of classical, jazz, and rock elements.
JacobTV (Jacob ter Veldhuis): Garden of Love (2002) – An influential 21st-century work for soprano saxophone and boombox (electronics).
Lior Navok: Hidden Reflections (1996) – A notable modern work for alto saxophone and piano that explores expressive and shifting textures.

Saxophone Quartets

Alexander Glazunov: Saxophone Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 109 (1932) – The most famous romantic-style work for the ensemble.
Eugène Bozza: Andante et Scherzo (1938) – A standard of the French quartet school known for its technical precision.
Alfred Desenclos: Quatuor pour saxophones (1964) – A profound, serious work that is a test of musical maturity for any quartet.
Iannis Xenakis: XAS (1987) – An avant-garde masterpiece exploring extreme textures and microtonality.
David Maslanka: Mountain Roads (1997) – A lyrical, chorale-based work that has become one of the most-performed American quartets.