Washington Saxophone Quartet
October 20, 2024 | 3 pm @ Richlands Middle School
Citizens for the Arts (CART) brings to the stage the Washington Saxophone Quartet, Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m at Richlands Middle School Auditorium. This performance is also supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which received support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.
The Washington Saxophone Quartet is the most widely heard saxophone quartet in the United States. Since 1997, recorded arrangements by the WsaxQ have aired daily throughout the United States on NPR’s broadcasts of “All Things Considered.” Concert audiences enjoy their connection to Washington Saxophone Quartet when they discover they’ve been listening to the quartet’s music during afternoon “drive-time.” And it often comes as a surprise that they’ve been hearing four saxophones. The instruments evoke the refined sounds of a string quartet, the rich harmonies of an organ prelude, the brilliance of brass, and the excitement of a jazz sax section.
The saxophone is a relatively new instrument, invented in 1840 by Adolphe Sax, who envisioned a family of instruments, from highest to lowest, much like a choir of voices. The Washington Saxophone Quartet – soprano, alto, tenor, baritone – takes full advantage of that by performing music in virtually all periods of music, from the renaissance to contemporary, programming examples: Johann Sebastian Bach or Arcangelo Corelli; an original work for saxophone quartet, perhaps from the United States, France or Belgium; an arrangement of a work by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel or Aaron Copland; the quartet also frequently performs works composed for them. The possibilities for repertoire are almost limitless.
Founded in 1976, WSaxQ has performed recitals, informal concerts, master classes and clinics, and collaborations with bands and orchestras, in the United States, the Caribbean, and China, as well as on radio and television worldwide. The ensemble taps into a rich repertoire, from early music to newly commissioned works, and draws on a wealth of experience to reach listeners of every age and background.
In concert, the quartet guides the audience along with commentary and insight into the music. It has always been the goal of the Washington Saxophone Quartet to enlighten its listeners and entertain with the highest levels of performance. And for those who may not have heard a saxophone quartet, and there are many, our hope is that it will be a delightful surprise and memorable experience.
Adult tickets are $15 and students are $10.Available at the door or by calling or texting (276) 963-3385.
Category: Music