Music archive entry



Composer:
Michael Nyman
Title:
Songs for Tony
Instrumentation:
Saxophone quartet - soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Duration:
7 minutes
Difficulty:
Good amateur
Technical Issues:
The Tenor player will need to double on Alto in one movement. Each of the four songs is essentially a solo for one of the players, with accompaniment from the others.
Programme note:

Michael Nyman learned shortly after beginning work on this quartet that his friend and business manager, Tony Simmons, had died after a long fight against cancer. He immediately sat down and wrote what is now the last movement. The previously composed music was scrapped, and he decided to give each player, in turn, an 'aria' of his or her own.

Songs for Tony was commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, who gave the first performance at the Purcell Room in 1993. It was performed by the London Chamber Group at the Conway Hall, London, in May 1999.

Availability:
Chester Music, +44 (0)171 434 0066



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This page created on
12th June 1999