[blerns3]

An audition I have at Manhattan School of Music in March requires two contrasting orchestral excerpts. What exactly constitutes an orchestral excerpt and what are the common ones in the repertoire? Thanks!

 

[legitalto]

Ravel-Bolero on Tenor or Soprano

Mussorgsky (Ravel)- The Old Castle

are the two most famous ones.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Great question. An orchestral excerpt is essentially a solo or highly demanding section of an orchestral work with saxophone. To make your life easy, get the book "The Orchestral Saxophonist" volume one by Bruce Ronkin. This book has already extracted the major excerpts for saxophone and you can choose which you want to play. However, since I went to MSM, I'd suggest these if you're auditioning on alto:

Bizet, "L'Arlesienne" (2nd orchestral suite), Mvt. II Intermezzo

Rachmaninoff, "Symphonic Dances"

Mussorgsky/Ravel, "Picture at an Exhibition"

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the school, etc.