Code: JP4038
ISMN: 979-0-3019-0007-9
Elegy after Brahms is an arrangement of the slow
movement of the Trio after Brahms for alto saxophone,
violin and piano by David DeBoor Canfield. This arrangement
was undertaken at the suggestion of Thomas Liley, for whom
the composer had written the trio a year earlier. The
adagio movement, unlike the other movements of the trio,
permitted such an arrangement without sacrificing too much
of the spirit of the original work, and is intended as a
piece in an older style for saxophonists who are looking
for more original romantic music for their instrument.
The present work was originally titled "Romance after
Brahms," but shortly after the composer had sent it to
Liley, he received word of his passing, and at that
point renamed the work in the memory of his dear friend.
The trio itself had been written in an attempt to fill a
void of original romantic chamber music for
saxophone. While Canfield had and has no delusions about
being another Brahms, he agreed that he would attempt to
write such a work, given that he himself loves Brahms'
music, and knows it well. In fact, even though unlike
his Concerto after Gliere, which utilized some of
Gliere's own music along with original music by Canfield,
the composer in the trio has not quoted anything from
Brahms' own output. There are, however, likely phrases,
chord sequences and other such things that could be
found somewhere in the music of this composer. This
arrangement removes the violin part, giving its lines in
large measure to the saxophone, and to a lesser extent to
the piano. Duration: approximately 5 minutes.
Click here for more information on David Deboor Canfield
