Yoshimatsu: Saxophone Concerto Nobuya Sugawa

• Takashi Yoshimatsu (b. 1953): Saxophone Concerto 'Albireo Mode', Op. 93 (2004-05):
• 1I. Topaz11:36
• 2II. Sapphire11:12
• Toshiyuki Honda (b. 1957): Concerto du vent (2005):
• 3I. Un vent propice04:25
• 4II. La marque du vent05:29
• 5III. Un noveau vent09:06
• Jacques Ibert (1890 - 1962): Concertino da Camera (1935):
• 6I. Allegro con moto04:22
• 7II. Larghetto03:46
• 8III. Animato molto04:40
• Lars-Erik Larsson (1908 - 1986): Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra, Op. 14 (1934):
• 9I. Allegro molto moderato10:17
• 10II. Adagio06:52
• 11III. Allegro scherzando04:27
• Total Runtime01:16:12

Info for Yoshimatsu: Saxophone Concerto

Honda: Concerto du vent
Ibert: Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone
Larsson: Concerto for saxophone & string orchestra (original version), Op. 14
Yoshimatsu: Soprano Saxophone Concerto 'Albireo mode'

Nobuya Sugawa (saxophone)
BBC Philharmonic, Yutaka Sado

Nobuya Sugawa is one of the most distinguished wind instrumentalists in Japan. He is joined here by the BBC Philharmonic under Yutaka Sado to perform works by Yoshimatsu and Honda, both of which are dedicated to him. He also plays works by Ibert and Larsson which are firmly established in the saxophone’s concert repertoire.

Sugawa performs in Japan and throughout the world and over the years has received numerous prizes and awards.

Takashi Yoshimatsu, who has a long-term association with Chandos, in 1994 wrote a concerto for Sugawa titled Cyber-bird, a piece which utilises all the functions of the saxophone, and fuses classical, ethnic and jazz styles. When Sugawa approached Yoshimatsu for a new concerto, the composer declined, saying, ‘I can’t compose a new work that surpasses the last one’. Yet, when the idea of a soprano saxophone concerto was mentioned, he writes, ‘I thought, maybe I can compose a concerto for the soprano sax that highlights “calm”, in contrast to the “motion” characteristic of Cyber-bird, and so I started to structure a new work’. The ‘Albireo’ of the title is the name of the double Beta star that sits at the beak of the constellation Cygnus. These two stars shine respectively bright golden yellow like a topaz and bluish-green like a sapphire. Yoshimatsu continues, ‘Albireo Mode symbolises the character of the soprano sax, which is two-fold, combining both coolness and heat, both beauty and depth. That is why I named the cool and beautiful first part “Topaz” and the hot and deep second part “Sapphire”’. The work was premiered by Sugawa in 2005 at the Symphony Hall in Osaka.

Toshiyuki Honda began his professional career as a saxophonist. He writes of the connection between Sugawa and the Concerto du vent, ‘Nobuya Sugawa, a saxophone player like me and a friend whom I respect very much, entrusted me with the task of writing a concerto for him, a concerto that would represent a tribute to jazz. People tend to associate jazz with ad lib and rhythm and blues, but we took a slightly different direction… It was a great honour to be able to record with the BBC Philharmonic and Nobuya Sugawa… “Vent” is the French word for wind. Please think of the Concerto du vent as a Concerto of the wind’.

Completing the recording are Ibert’s Concertino da camera, one of the best-known works for alto saxophone, by a composer Yutaka Sado has conducted on many occasions, and Larsson’s popular Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra.

“Lovers of the saxophone must welcome an album that offers two stalwart works in such fine interpretations, as well as significantly extending the recorded repertory.” (Gramophone)

Takashi Yoshimatsu: Saxophone Concerto, Op. 93, 'Albireo mode' I. Topaz
II. Sapphire
Toshiyuki Honda: Concerto du vent
I. Un vent propice
II. La marque du vent
III. Un noveau vent
Jacques Ibert: Concertino da camera
I. Allegro con moto
II. Larghetto
III. Animato molto
Lars-Erik Larsson: Saxophone Concerto, Op. 14
I. Allegro molto moderato
II. Adagio
III. Allegro scherzando

One of Japan's most distinguished saxophonists, Nobuya Sugawa studied at Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music and has always been admired by many young Japanese saxophonists.
Sugawa makes about 100 recital and concert appearances a year and he has recorded more than 20 CDs, including highly acclaimed Takashi Yoshimatsu's Saxophone Concerto Cyber-bird with BBC Philharmonic (CHANDOS) and MADE IN JAPAN (Toshiba-EMI), the Japanese contemporary works.
He has worked with most of Japan's leading orchestras, The Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Orchestra d'Harmonie de la Garde Republicaine, and Aargauer Symphonie Orchester in Switzerland, Wutterbergische Philharmonie in Germany.
In 2001, he has worked with NHK Symphony Orchestra on their regular program, conducted by Charles Dutoit. He toured with the jazz bassist Ron Carter in 2000 and with the guitarist Martin Taylor in 2002. In 2003, he played at Musikverein Brahmssaal, Wien.
He has also given master classes at music colleges throughout Japan, Europe and the States.

Booklet for Yoshimatsu: Saxophone Concerto