北美薩克斯風聯盟(North American Saxophone Alliance, 簡稱NASA, 不過不是太空總署那個NASA喔...)
這是一個由全美國各地, 許多薩克斯風演奏家,大學教授與教育家所共同組成的組織,從1976年至今, 已經30多年, 許多重要的古典薩克斯風大師如Frederick Hemke(西北大學教授), Eugene Rousseau(明尼蘇達大學教授), 或是優秀的薩克斯風教育家John Sampen(Bowling Green大學教授), Debra Richtmeyer(伊利諾大學香檳分校教授) 都曾經帶領過這個聯盟的許多活動~
其中, 最重要的活動之一, 就是每兩年舉辦一次的"北美薩克斯風年會---NASA Biennial Conference"
從很早以前,William就聽了古典薩克斯風的啟蒙老師---李賢老師 (目前為泰國瑪喜多大學的薩克斯風教授, 也是2009年世界薩克斯風年會的主辦者之一), 常常講到這個年會的事情, 在短短3~4天的時間裡, 有數十場的演出與講座同時進行, 也有古典與爵士的比賽, 並有與樂團合作的協奏曲演出~
今年(2010)的美國年會日期是3月3~6號, 地點是在喬治亞州的喬治亞大學(University of Georgia)舉辦, William在好幾個月前就申請演出, 很高興申請被接受了, 除了能去演出外, 最棒的就是能夠去欣賞許多優秀的古典與爵士薩克斯風演奏家的演出, 以及多首當代作曲家為薩克斯風所委託創作的首演之外, 還有聽都聽不完的專題講座與大師班了...
此外, 當然還要特別感謝老婆大人, 要陪我飛去Georgia, 幫我伴奏, 還有陪我聽無數場的薩克斯風音樂會...(老婆您的耳朵辛苦啦....^^)
以下就是這次演出的節目單, 請大家參考看看囉~ (不過是英文版的就是了, 不好意思囉....^^)
NASA Biennial Conference
March. 5. 2010
University of Georgia Orchestra Room
William Chien (Alto Saxophone)
Kate Kang (Piano)
Program Note
Meditation Hebraique (1924) Ernest Bloch(1880-1959)
Arranged For Alto Saxophone and Piano (World Premier)
This piece was originally written for cello and piano. Bloch wrote many works using Jewish liturgical and folksongs, this is one of the works and was dedicated to the great cellist Pable Casals.
When I heard this piece for the first time, it was the version for double bass and piano. I found that it is very touching and lyrical, and thought it would be great to played it by saxophone. In saxophone’s repertoire there are not such works like Bloch’s music, mixed by exoticism and deep emotion of Jewish music. Therefore I transcribed this piece and arranged it for alto saxophone.
The most challenging part in this arrangement is the wide range of cello, and the repeating tonic note-C (which is low A in alto saxophone). The note is extremely important in this music that it can’t be simply raised an octave or changed to other note instead. The method I use here is to half-cover the bell of saxophone, making the low Bb much flat to match the pitch of low A.
Memories of Xiaoxiang(2003) Lei Liang
This piece is written by a Contemporary Chinese composer, Lei Liang, and is describing a true story happened in China during the cultural revolution. A grieving wife’s husband was killed unjustly by the village mayor, but she could not do anything to revenge. All she can do was cried and wailed every midnight in the mountainside behind the mayor’s house. At the end of story, both the wife and the mayor lose their sanity.
It is written for alto saxophone and 4-track electronic tape. In this piece, Mr. Liang uses the sound of saxophone as an additional layer that augments and interacts with the electronic part. The glissando figures played with the mouthpiece alone evoke the ghostly wailing and slap-tongued notes mix with the sounds of a plucked guzheng . Besides, Mr. Liang borrows the vocal sample and folk melody specifically from a Chinese opera written by composer Wu-ping Mo (莫五平) from Hunan province.
Adagio(2004) Chien-Nien Chen
Chien-Nien Chen, a Taiwanese Composer, he holds the masters degree in Composition and Film Scoring at NYU, and studied under Dr. Dinu Ghezzo.
His orchestra work-orchestra suite No.3 "lsland of the Legend" won the NYU Orchestra composition competition and performed by NYU Symphony Orchestra on April 9th 2004"
His orchestra work-orchestra suite No.3 "lsland of the Legend" won the NYU Orchestra composition competition and performed by NYU Symphony Orchestra on April 9th 2004"
I commissioned this piece for alto saxophone and piano several years ago, it based on a three-note motif, E, D, B and its extensions. The melody is lyrical and peaceful; composer tries to develop it in mild feelings.
