[Paumartin]

It is that time of the year again. And I need your suggestions.

What is a great Christmas piece to welcome\carol worshipers before midnight mass (Catholic Church). I need suggestions for two pieces and for alto or soprano saxophone and piano.

One is Ave Maria. What is the best arrangement you can suggest for alto saxophone and piano.

I have also thought of Mediation of Thai. I am not sure this is appropriate. It is considered by some to be a wedding piece. Some consider it a sad piece. But certainly a piece that evokes a lot of emotion/solemnity.

But I certainly need more suggestions or ideas

Thank you once again and I hope you have a very merry Christmas in advance

Peter

 

[Reedsplinter]

Whoa, they don't even have the decorations up at Target yet.

I don't have enough money saved up even to THINK about this.

 

[LateNiteSax]

What kind of tenor sax would Jesus play?

I say a Relaq Mk Vll (its not the horn, its the player )

 

[hakukani]

It is that time of the year again. And I need your suggestions.

What is a great Christmas piece to welcome\carol worshipers before midnight mass (Catholic Church). I need suggestions for two pieces and for alto or soprano saxophone and piano.

One is Ave Maria. What is the best arrangement you can suggest for alto saxophone and piano.

I have also thought of Mediation of Thai. I am not sure this is appropriate. It is considered by some to be a wedding piece. Some consider it a sad piece. But certainly a piece that evokes a lot of emotion/solemnity.

But I certainly need more suggestions or ideas

Thank you once again and I hope you have a very merry Christmas in

advance

Peter

Schubert wrote a really nice Ave Maria. I've heard it done on virtually every instrument.

 

[RootyTootoot]

"It is never too early to have the spirit." Hmmm.... Rooty the Christmas grouch might have to disagree with you on that, Peter . Especially if you're selling something. But since you're not...

We Three Kings (after some listening to the Roland Kirk track.)
O, Little Town of Bethlehem.
In the Bleak Midwinter.

or even (horrors!) - and only if you can play it absolutely beautifully - Silent Night.

Naturally, all suggestions above imply the traditional melodies rather than something new fangled and, therefore clearly not to be tolerated .

If you need something that's not a known carol that people are likely to be singing at some point over Christmas, I would have a dig in a traditional carol book and find something folky with a Christmas theme. Something simple, direct and beautiful.

merry christmas, peter.

 

[LampLight]

A favorite of mine is "Of the Father's love begotten". I expect it would make a good solo, too.

 

[hakukani]

A favorite of mine is "Of the Father's love begotten". I expect it would make a good solo, too.

Since it's from a plainchant, it would be an especially good without accompaniment, IMO.

 

[cymru97]

Something simple, direct and beautiful.

How 'bout "The Man With the Bag" ala the Muppets? Zoot has a wonderful little solo in there and Animal goes nuts at the end. Might need a larger ensemble though...

Sorry, couldn't resist. All the pieces mentioned so far sound wonderful, wish more churches would/could do this.

 

[Reedsplinter]

The Johnny Winter version of "Please Come Home for Christmas" has a fabulous sax ride by Edgar.

 

[cleger]

More of a secular-type Christmas tune, but I love Dexter's version of The Christmas Song on this album.

 

[LampLight]

Since it's from a plainchant, it would be an especially good without accompaniment, IMO.

Yes indeed. Unaccompanied is what I had in mind, and I should have been clearer.

 

[cymru97]

A favorite of mine is "Of the Father's love begotten". I expect it would make a good solo, too.

Wow, that is nice. I just listened to it for the first time, that would be a great sax solo.

 

[Enviroguy]

I really like doing "What Child Is This?" (Greensleeves) on sop. with piano backup. Adding a flute for counter melody works great too, but the sop. solo is beautiful by itself.

 

[RootyTootoot]

By one of those bizarre coincidences, a pupil showed up with a playalong of Christmas hits tonight and what with that and thinking about this thread earlier in the day I am now in my "Christmas mood" about three and a half months early (thanks, Peter ). The trouble is, of course, that my fund of "Yuletide cheer" will run out in approx 48 hours and that will be it until 2008! Anyhow, in contradiction of my earlier liturgical babblings I have but three words:

Jingle Bell Rock.

If you could get away with it, that is absolutely beautiful.

 

[Honeyboy]

Oh Holy Night!!!!

 

[saxboy]

Christmas Spirit

I totally agree with the opening statement. I love Christmas music, the Christmas message is amazing, and I have recorded 2 Christmas CDs so far.

Love to have you-all check them out. www.ChristmasSax.com has audio clips up to hear. And now, Christmas is just around the corner.

Hope your holidays are blessed,

 

[Carl H.]

The Largo from the Vivaldi Flute Concerto in F, RV433 is stunning on soprano with either piano or organ (or harpsichord if you can swing it).

 

[RCNELSON]

Oh Holy Night!!!!

I'll second this one. It's a great Christmas Eve song. On Alto. Play it in concert C. End it on the high A (concert C).

 

[saxmangeoff]

I'm partial to "O Holy Night" as well, especially if you really work the dynamic range. This is a song to take from ff to mp (or even p) and back again. Power and delicacy, strength and quietness, it's all in there.

And it's WAY easier to play on sax than it is to sing.

 

[Dave Collins]

Breath of Heaven is really nice. Check out Grover's version on his CD called "Breath of Heaven." Ha. That whole album will give ideas of songs to play.