crash and burn (concerto for alto saxophone), opus 24 (2010)
INSTRUMENTATION: alto saxophone (or clarinet) and chamber ensemble (or piano).
A single-movement concerto for saxophone and piano.
“Crash and Burn" is my first concerto for an instrument other than the piano, and was originally written for the UNCG Contemporary Chamber Players Ensemble under the direction of Alejandro Rutty and Maestro Robert Gutter. It was written to be performed by saxophone virtuoso and UNCG Professor Steven Stusek, but was instead premiered by his exceptional student, Xin Gao, who breathed a new energy and vitality into the work and into its development. In its final form the completed concerto incorporates a variety of new compositional techniques and experimental tonalities, cycling through a loose three-part form and taking steps to span the gap between the art music tradition and the world of popular music. Though cast in one movement, the structure is meant to allude to the traditional concerto paradigm.
Written by Carlos M. Fuentes. Copyright 2011. Xin Gao, saxophone; Nancy Davis, piano.
The original piano reduction by the composer is here given an excellent rendering by UNCG faculty member and fantastic concert pianist, Mrs. Nancy Davis. Together, Xin and Nancy premiered the work in its entirety at my senior composition recital, in the UNCG School of Music, Theater, and Dance Recital Hall -- Thursday, November 4, 2010.