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John Worley?

2150 Views 5 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  DWoz5000
My mom's friend told me earlier today that she was a relative of this apparently famous composer/player. I was wondering if anyone here had any information or recommendations of any pieces of his... She lent me a Kenneth Tse CD that has him playing Worley's Six Dances (currently waiting for it to finish ripping =X), and because I am predominantly an alto player, I was wondering-are there any other notable pieces by him?
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I don't know a whole lot...but I believe he was a tenor player in the Rascher Saxophone Ensemble and he did a number of great transcriptions for the group. My personal favorite is his arrangement of Greig's Holberg Suite. You can find this arrangement on the Rascher Saxophone Ensemble's New York Couterpoint CD as well as on the old blue bordered record (the one with Rascher on the front with all the saxophones.)
I like his Sonata--Kenneth Tse has also recorded that. A student of mine just played it on recital this past semester. Modest altissimo demands--nicely crafted piece.
drakesaxprof said:
I like his Sonata--Kenneth Tse has also recorded that. A student of mine just played it on recital this past semester. Modest altissimo demands--nicely crafted piece.
And such beautiful romantic lines and outbursts. A really worthwhile piece.

Actually, one of the first saxo sonatas I ever heard. From an old Bilger Duo tape that my oboe teacher lent me in high school!

Angel
The Sonata is amazing. One of the prettiest 2nd mvmts, up there with Creston Sonata 2nd mvmt for me. I love Lawrence Gwozdz's recording of it on his Rascher Tribute CD (Crystal Records). Very fun piece to play.
John Worley played tenor for the Saxophone Sinfonietta under Bilger as well as at Rascher Workshop orchestras. He was born in Massachusettes, taught at Oneonta and Univ. of Maine at Orono. I believe his final years were spent in Maine. I like his music a lot.
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