Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Oasis Quartet will present a diverse program of works for saxophone when they perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.
"The music on this program represents some of our favorite works for saxophone quartet and actually features two new pieces written for Oasis Quartet," said Dr. Nathan Nabb, professor of saxophone in the SFA School of Music and quartet member. Other members include James Bunte, Dave Camwell and James Romain.
"We put a great deal of thought into our programs and always plan to present an exciting blend of original works for the instrument as well as transcriptions from varying periods and styles," Nabb said. "This approach leads to a diverse program with something for every listener and allows us to show the flexibility of the instrument and ensemble."
"Scallywag" is a new work Stephen Lias, professor of composition at SFA, wrote for Oasis last spring. Oasis premiered it this past November during the ensemble's fall tour of the Midwest.
"This is a challenging work that blends elements of jazz and funk with more traditional 'classical' saxophone techniques," Nabb said. "Steve has collaborated with Oasis on various projects for over five years now, and he certainly knows the strengths of the group. The result is a really fun and energetic concert opener."
Also on the program is "Recitation Book" by David Maslanka, which is a work that became popular in the saxophone quartet repertoire in the early 2000s, according to Nabb.
"Like much of Maslanka's music, this work draws from various musical periods, including madrigals, chorales and chant," he said. "The fifth movement, 'Fanfare and Variations on Durch Adam's Fall,' is a powerful and virtuosic closer to the piece and stands alone as a work unto itself in this program."
Also featured will be a piece by Dutch composer and saxophonist Guillermo Lago, founding member of the Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, and another piece written specifically for Oasis by Richard Lavenda, professor of composition and theory at Rice University.
Each member of Oasis is a concert artist in his own right, and they appear regionally, nationally and internationally as chamber musicians, clinicians, orchestral musicians, solo recitalists and adjudicators. They can be heard on the Teal Creek, Centaur, Innova, Amp Recordings, and Mark Custom labels, and in performances with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as a number of regional orchestras.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit http://www.finearts.sfasu.edu/.