Saxophone Orcchestral Excerpts

Remijobs said:

Hello everyone! I'm an undergrad student, trying to transfer into a conservatory. I really need some help finding orchestral excerpts for the Alto Sax. I need at least 3 for my audition, and I'm having trouble finding the music for any. I can't afford to buy a whole orchestra piece and take the excerpt from there. Any tips on where to find some excerpts, or what pieces to pick from would be greatly appreciated !!

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IMSLP might be a good place to start (e.g., search for scores featuring alto saxophone).

There's a pair of compilations of excerpts called "The Orchestral Saxophonist," vols 1 and 2, available from various sheet music retailers and probably Amazon and Ebay. Some of the excerpts seem like little snippets and may not be long enough to meet your requirements, but it's a starting place.

Remijobs said:

Hello everyone! I'm an undergrad student, trying to transfer into a conservatory. I really need some help finding orchestral excerpts for the Alto Sax. I need at least 3 for my audition, and I'm having trouble finding the music for any. I can't afford to buy a whole orchestra piece and take the excerpt from there. Any tips on where to find some excerpts, or what pieces to pick from would be greatly appreciated !!

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If you are an undergrad, contact your music department for scores and audition pieces. Most will have a departmental library.

You should also contact your advisor and profs. They should know you well enough to help you choose pieces that best mirror your ability and expression.

Eulipion2 said:

There's a pair of compilations of excerpts called "The Orchestral Saxophonist," vols 1 and 2, available from various sheet music retailers and probably Amazon and Ebay. Some of the excerpts seem like little snippets and may not be long enough to meet your requirements, but it's a starting place.

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From Volume One (an inexpensive book, by the way):

One can certainly compile a very substantial solo part by piecing together some excerpts from the First and Second L'arlesienne Suites by Bizet.

The alto solo in "Pictures at an Exhibition" is not lengthy, but it's so important in the repertoire that it might be accepted all by itself. Tone is exceedingly important here.

Check out the material by Walton and Vaughan Williams -- there are some tricky passages. This could make a good choice for a more technical excerpt.

"Symphonic Dances" by Rachmaninoff also could be a good choice.

Eulipion2 said:

There's a pair of compilations of excerpts called "The Orchestral Saxophonist," vols 1 and 2, available from various sheet music retailers and probably Amazon and Ebay. Some of the excerpts seem like little snippets and may not be long enough to meet your requirements, but it's a starting place.

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Thank you so much, this was really helpful. How long should orchestral excerpts for auditions be?

Remijobs said:

Thank you so much, this was really helpful. How long should orchestral excerpts for auditions be?

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That's up to the school for which you're auditioning, but as LostConn pointed out, you should be able to get enough out of those volumes to meet the requirements. You should try contacting the sax instructor for the school and see if he or she has any recommendations. What exactly does the audition requirement say, and does it give any examples?