In his new Saxophone Concerto, Gabriel Prokofiev explores a side of classical music usually seen as forbidden by modern contemporary composers: melody. This aspect was incorporated at the request of the soloist, Branford Marsalis, allowing Prokofiev to revisit characteristics of the classical tradition not usually heard in contemporary music, giving the saxophone an open canvas. Prokofiev's Bass Drum Concerto shows the versatility of the instrument, despite only being used in a very basic fashion in classical music as a whole. Prokofiev experiments with how the bass drum is struck, where it is struck, and what it is struck with throughout the piece, producing a variety of sounds, colors and textures.
2 1. I. Largo - Andante Deciso - Molto Pesante (Alla Hip-Hop) 0:10:42
3 2. II. Scherzo - Con Moto 0:06:58
4 3. III. Largo Mesto 0:06:51
5 4. Iv. Allegro Mechanico 0:08:01
6 Bass Drum Concerto
7 5. I. Lento Scuro (Bass War) 0:07:17
8 6. II. Largo Mesto (In the Steppes) 0:06:29
9 7. III. Allegro Moderato Leggiero (Four to the Floor) 0:04:18
10 8. Iv. Allegro Brilliante (May Speed) 0:03:58
In his new Saxophone Concerto, Gabriel Prokofiev explores a side of classical music usually seen as forbidden by modern contemporary composers: melody. This aspect was incorporated at the request of the soloist, Branford Marsalis, allowing Prokofiev to revisit characteristics of the classical tradition not usually heard in contemporary music, giving the saxophone an open canvas. Prokofiev's Bass Drum Concerto shows the versatility of the instrument, despite only being used in a very basic fashion in classical music as a whole. Prokofiev experiments with how the bass drum is struck, where it is struck, and what it is struck with throughout the piece, producing a variety of sounds, colors and textures.
