Fanfare Band
Variations: Paris 1846
A Bicentennial Tribute to Adolphe Sax
Grade 6 | 17 Mins
Variations – Paris, 1846 was commissioned by Fanfareorkest Brass-aux-Saxes from Westerlo, Belgium. The premiere took place there on 7th May 2016, in the De Zoerla concert venue, in the presence of the composer.
The commission began as part of the orchestra’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2014, coincidentally the bicentenary of birth of the great Belgian inventor, Adolphe Sax, whose instruments form the basis of the fanfare orchestra, an ensemble which is almost unique to Belgium and the Netherlands. It was therefore agreed to make the new piece a homage to Sax and his unique legacy: among his many innovations the saxophone is a rare example of a completely new instrument that has become firmly established in many forms of music making. Sax filed the patent for the family of saxophones on June 28th 1846 while working in Paris.
The work is a series of variations on an original chorale, each featuring a particular instrumental section of the fanfare. An introduction presents two iterations of the chorale and leads to the first variation – Scherzo for the Saxophones. It is fast, delicate and French in flavour, the saxophone filigree work eventally forming a descant to the chorale.
The second variation, Chorale for the Horns and Flugel Horns, presents a slow and noble melody based on the original chorale which builds to a climax and returns under florid saxophone decoration.
Variation 3, Fanfare for the Trumpets and Trombones, is strong and robust in nature and presents a series of fanfare figures, which exploits various aspects of brass technique and leads straight into Variation 4, Interlude for the Baritones, Euphoniums and Tubas. This is once again based on the original chorale and features acrobatic solos for the low brass, melting into a return of the openng material.
The Finale is bold and rhythmic and features all the sections of the fanfare in turn, eventually leading to the final, triumphal return of the chorale theme