The Apollo Saxophone Quartet presented their latest series of commissions from some of today’s most exciting and innovative composers in two concerts at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, including the world premiere of Grace-Evangeline Mason’s In the Fragrant Air, on November 5th. The new works, from Dani Howard, Grace-Evangeline Mason, Jenni Watson, Claire Cope, Adam Caird, and Bill Connor, will also form the basis of their next recording release.
‘In The Fragrant Air’ (2022) for saxophone quartet is inspired by the opening lines of the poem ‘Calm is the fragrant air’ by William Wordsworth (1770-1850). The piece begins with gentle, cascading figures suggestive of the fragrant air and falling dews described in the first lines of the poem. This is followed by more rhythmic passages with fuller, contrasting textures as ‘one by one’ you look up to the stars to ‘mark them twinkling out with silvery light’ as the music opens out into repetitive, shimmering instances before returning to the atmospheric airs from which the material originates.
The next upcoming concert dates of the work performed by Apollo Saxophone Quartet are:
22nd November - Hull Minster Tickets/Information
12th March - Tung Auditorium, Liverpool Tickets/Information
29th March - Taunton Brewhouse, Somerset Tickets/Information
