Many baritone players asked me for advice on the repertoire for baritone saxophone. As it is impossible to know all repertoire (check out this post), I have a long list with the most interesting works in terms of pedagogy and interpretation that I studied or played once at least.
Late 2020, I revised the “15 Intermediate Works for Baritone Saxophone”, “15 Advanced Works for Baritone Saxophone (1)” and “15 Advanced Works for Baritone Saxophone (2)” that I posted on this blog between 2013 and 2015. Then, I updated them by replacing transcriptions and including more recent pieces, in order to promote of the original repertoire for the instrument.
In Summer 2023, I have added some data for the techniques you can find in each of these 15 Master’s Level works for Baritone Saxophone. I hope you find it useful!
1) Baritone Saxophone Solo
OXYTON (1991), Christophe Havel
Publisher: P. J. Tonger Musikverlag, Köln-Rodenkirchen (GER)
Duration: Around 9:00
Range (written): A2 – Bb6
TECHNIQUES: Multiphonics, extreme dynamics (ffff-pppp), slaps, tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, flatter, extreme altissimo register, glissandi, ¼ tones, vibrato and oscillations, very fast excerpts, sudden changes of elements and expression, performative interpretation.
COMMENT: With no doubt, this work is really a milestone of our repertoire in terms of techniques (with really hard elements) as well as interpretative. Indispensable.
Watch the video!
>>>Click here, to find out more about this work.
PRESS RELEASE (1991/2001), David Lang
Publisher: G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP), New York (USA)
Duration: Around 10:00
Range (written): A2 – B5
TECHNIQUES: Tonguing accuracy, altissimo register, fast excerpts, sudden changes of dynamics and expression, stability of pulse, funk feeling performance.
COMMENT: Originally composed for bass clarinet and adapted later for the baritone saxophone by the composer, this work requires a great dynamics control in all registers and a great physical resistance.
Watch the video!
LA FUSAIN FUIT LA GOMME (1999), Marie-Hélène Fournier
Publisher: Henri Lemoine, Paris (FRA)
Duration: Around 15:30
Range (written): A2 – D7
TECHNIQUES: Tonguing accuracy, extreme dynamics (ffff-pppp), slaps, multiphonics, stability of pulse, fast excerpts, very extreme altissimo register, circular breathing required, flatter, trills, performative interpretation.
COMMENT: Upon a fast ostinato tonguing on the low D, there progressively appear other sound elements (harmonics and all kind of multiphonics), variations on the staccato (from soft tonguing to slap) and rhythm. This is a very physical and demanding work.
Listen to the audio!
TIME FIELDS (2002-06), Hèctor Parra
Publisher: Edicions Tritó, Barcelona (ESP)
Duration: Around 6:00
Range (written): A2 – G6 (or as treble as possible)
TECHNIQUES: Tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, slaps, ¼ tones, smorzatti, air sounds, multiphonics, extreme dynamics (ffff-pppp), flatter, extreme altissimo register, glissandi, vibrato and oscillations, very fast excerpts, sudden changes of elements (register, dynamics, etc.) and expression.
COMMENT: As a good example of a “new complexity” style, it is impossible to play this astonishing work without a great deployment of performing energy.
Listen to the audio!
>>>Click here, to find out more about this work.
TROIS RÊVES EN MUSIQUE (2015), José Luis Campana
Publisher: Babel Scores, Paris (FRA)
Duration: Around 10:30
Range (written): A2 – B6
TECHNIQUES: Overtones, vibrato and oscillations, very fast excerpts, air sounds, extreme dynamics (ffff-pppp), extreme altissimo register, glissandi, trills and tremolos, tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, slaps, ¼ tones, flatter, sudden changes of elements (articulations, dynamics, etc.) and expression, performative interpretation.
COMMENT: This is an impressive work in all senses: technically and interpretatively. If you like challenges, this is your piece.
Listen to the audio!
>>>Click here, to find out more about this work.
2) Baritone Saxophone and Electronics
A CHILLIDA (1997), Mercè Capdevila
Live electronics modulated with SPX90 II. There is also a version in live electronics by the sound artist and composer Joan Bagés (joanbir@hotmail.com)
Publisher: Contact the composer (mercecapdevilagaya@gmail.com)
Duration: 16:10 long
Range (written): A2 – F6 (or as treble as possible)
TECHNIQUES: Diversity of articulations, slaps, glissandi, trills and tremolos, flatter, extreme altissimo register, tonguing accuracy, key sounds, air sounds, overtones, use of voice, trumpet sounds.
COMMENT: Each one of its five parts is an absolutely amazing sample of advanced techniques on the baritone and colouring on the electronics part. Simply spectacular!
Listen to the audio!
>>>Click here, to find out more about this work.
STAN (2001), Christian Lauba
Tape (there is also the possibility to play it with piano instead of electronics)
Publisher: Editions Alphonse Leduc, Paris (FRA)
Duration: Around 8:00
Range (written): A2 – C#6
TECHNIQUES: Circular breathing required, intonation, multiphonics, quality of legatos in wide intervals, altissimo register, extreme dynamics (ffff-pppp), tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, bisbigliandi, very fast excerpts.
COMMENT: A beautiful electronics part (simple but very efficient) for a very demanding work in terms of techniques, especially for the use of the circular breath and a final full of fast and rhythmic excerpts.
Watch the video!
MYRRH (2012), Timothy Harenda
Live electronics (there is also the possibility to play it with a tape version)
Publisher: Contact the composer (tmh0166@unt.edu)
Duration: Around 8:00
Range (written): B2 – C6
TECHNIQUES: Very fast excerpts, intonation, glissandi, trills and tremolos, altissimo register, tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, slaps, ¼ tones, multiphonics, flatter, growl, stability of pulse.
COMMENT: Originally composed for the alto saxophone, the version for the baritone rests also demanding, especially in its fast excerpts.
Listen to the audio!
motherFUNK! (2012), Ian Wilson
RC-300 Loop Station
Publisher: Contact the composer (tullynascreen@gmail.com)
Duration: Around 9:00
Range (written): B2 – F6
TECHNIQUES: Diversity of articulations, tonguing accuracy, altissimo register, very fast excerpts, stability of pulse, intonation, funk feeling performance.
COMMENT: Although you control this device very well, it is a very difficult piece for the pulse and rhythms. Anyway, it is worth the effort.
Listen to the audio!
3) Baritone Saxophone and Piano
SONATE (2000), Alain Margoni
Publisher: Gérard Billaudot Editeur, Paris (FRA)
Duration: Around 8:30
Range (written): A2 – A6
TECHNIQUES: Tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, stability of pulse, very fast excerpts, intonation, flatter, trills and tremolos, overtones, multiphonics, extreme altissimo register.
COMMENT: It is a brilliant work, with many advanced techniques on the baritone that requires a good work on chamber music, as well.
Watch the video!
>>>Click here, to find out more about this work.
CAUSA SUI SONATA (ed. 2002), Carl Fischer
Publisher: Notissimo Editeur (Alphonse Leduc), Paris (FRA)
Duration: Around 6:30
Range (written): A2 – Bb5
TECHNIQUES: Overtones, multiphonics, altissimo register, ¼ tones, glissandi, very fast excerpts, quality of legatos in wide intervals, trills and tremolos, tonguing accuracy, intonation, slap, ghost notes.
COMMENT: It is quite similar to the precedent work but it is composed in some styles of modern music.
DOPPELGESANG (2015), Alan Theisen
Publisher: Self-edited (https://alantheisen.com/store/doppelgesang).
Duration: Around 12:00
Range (written): Bb2 – C6 (D6, optional)
TECHNIQUES: Intonation, diversity of articulations, tonguing accuracy, bisbigliandi, trills and tremolos, ¼ tones, multiphonics, altissimo register, very fast excerpts, stability of pulse, quality of legatos in wide intervals, improvised parts.
COMMENT: It is a fantastic piece for chamber music. It is technically demanding, with lots of advanced techniques, and very resolutive in terms of interpretation.
Listen to the audio!
4) Chamber Music with Baritone Saxophone
DUO-SONATE (1977), Sofia Gubaidulina
For two Baritone Saxophones (original for two Bassoons)
Publisher: Musikverlag Hans Sikorski, Hamburg (GER)
Duration: Around 9:00
Range (written): Bb2 – D6 (1st baritone) / G2 (or A2) – B5 (2nd baritone)
TECHNIQUES: Tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, intonation, altissimo register, overtones, trills and tremolos, ¼ tones, flatter, glissandi, multiphonics.
COMMENT: Although it was no composed for our instrument, the sonority of the baritone saxophone gives a captivating atmosphere to the work. A great piece by one of the great women composers of the 20th-21st Centuries.
Listen to the audio!
JMDC (2010), Dominique Soulat
For Baritone Saxophone Quartet
Publisher: Editions Bar&Co, Ambazac (FRA)
Duration: Around 9:00
Range (written): B2 – E6 (1st Baritone) / C#3 – E5 (2nd Baritone) / C#3 – F#5 (3rd Baritone) / A2 – D5 (4th Baritone)
TECHNIQUES: Intonation, very fast excerpts, tonguing accuracy, stability of pulse, jazz improvisation optional, diversity of articulations, altissimo register.
COMMENT: One of the very first pieces originally written for baritone quartet, it is a tribute of the composer to John Coltrane, Michael Brecker and Charlie Parker. If you like jazz, this is your work.
QUARKS BLAUS (2010-11), Joan Bagés i Rubí
For Baritone Saxophone, three Snare Drums and Electronics
Publisher: Contact the composer (joanbir@hotmail.com)
Duration: Around 13:30
Range (written): A2 – G5 (the more treble possible)
TECHNIQUES: All kind of air sounds and transitions, flatter, glissandi, key sounds, multiphonics, tonguing accuracy, diversity of articulations, slaps, trills and tremolos, altissimo register, very fast excerpts, bisbigliandi, use of voice, kiss sounds, improvised parts, overtones, teeth on reed.
COMMENT: The constantly search of timbres in the electronics as well as the instrumental parts, push the limits of the baritone saxophone. It is also interesting for the work on the chamber music skills.
Listen to the audio!