Adventurer, The: Suite for Eb Alto Saxophone and Piano

The Adventurer: Suite for Eb Alto Saxophone and Piano, by Kenneth Baird, is a short (3:40) three-movement work in a bold contemporary style. The first movement is a joyful allegro that is filled with syncopation, harmonic surprises, and echoes of Gershwin and Bernstein. The second movement is an adagio that begins peacefully, adds a little more motion with a pentatonic melody, and then returns to a peaceful mood, concluding with a harmonic question. The suite then concludes with a lively and spirited dance-like allegro that alternates between 3/4 and 6/8, and may, for some, invoke images of a pirate-like nautical adventure, while also sounding somewhat like a Latin American dance tune. Requiring good technical agility and security with syncopated rhythms, the Adventurer: Suite for Eb Alto Saxophone is a refreshing change from the standard contest repertoire written for this intermediate level and will be a delight both for the performers (soloist and accompanist) and for the listener. An alternative, less technically challenging ending is provided for less-advanced performers. The composer notes that although the Adventurer was originally composed for trumpet, he feels it works equally well on the alto saxophone and that the saxophone version should not be construed as a lesser version than the original trumpet version. Great for performances at solo contests/competitions as well as at recitals.