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Friday, October 19, 2012

FRENCH & SPANISH MUSIC FOR SAXOPHONES



An extraordinary concert takes place on October 22 at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg when Music Revival in association with FOTAG presents young Spanish saxophonist and composer David Salleras in concert. He will be joined by Durban-based saxophonist Maxine Matthews (23) and Christopher Duigan (piano). Matthews, who has already won a popular following locally with her skilled and sensitive performances, has invited her colleague Salleras to play a six concert tour in South Africa.

David Salleras has created a new form of writing for the saxophone. After finishing his studies at the conservatoire in Barcelona, he won a scholarship to continue his studies in France with Jean-Yves Fourmeau and Nicolas Prost in Paris. Here he distinguished himself showing an outstanding sense of improvisation, mixing contemporary music and traditional Spanish idioms. His contact with multiple musical genres and his unique interpretations were encouraged, leading to the creation of new compositions and performances.

A musician without limits, his music draws on various music sources; from Bartok, Albeniz, Falla, Ginastera, Paco de Lucia and Piazzolla. The result is music created by a melodic virtuoso who leads the audience in a world where everyone finds their stories, their origins.

The recipient of numerous international awards in Spain, France, Switzerland, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, his compositions are performed by saxophonists throughout Europe, both as saxophone quartets and solo pieces. David plays saxophones by Selmer, Paris and his works are published by Edition Dinsic Barcelona.

The Tatham programme will include a number of Salleras original compositions for one and two unaccompanied saxes as well as rarely-performed compositions for two saxophones with piano by JS Singlee and an arrangement of the Trio for piano, oboe and bassoons by Francis Poulenc.

Keeping with a French and Spanish theme for the evening, the ensemble of two saxophones and piano include two of the standard classical works for saxophone; Debussy’s Rhapsody and Darius Milhaud’s Scaramouch. They end the programme with music by ‘nuevo tango’ composer Astor Piazzolla including Milonga del Angel, Oblivion and movements from his Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Las Quatro Estaciones PorteƱas.

This concert, offering an engaging and entertaining evening of new musical ideas, forms part of the Music Revival 15th birthday month which runs from October to mid-November. Selections from this programme will also be presented at the Friends of Music in Durban on October 23, University of Cape Town (October 24) and the Classic Music festival in Franschhoek (October 27/28)

The concert takes place at 19h30 on October in the Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg. Tickets R80 booked on 033 342 3051or email: booking@musicrevival.co.za (preferred). Refreshments will be on sale in the Coffee Shop and there is secure parking on the Church Street side of the Gallery.