Track Listing

1. Two Bourr�es (for harpsichord) (attributed)
2. Allegro moderato
3. Tranquillo
4. Presto-Lento
5. Allegro vivace
6. Andantino espressivo
7. Molto vivace
8. Pr�lude-Allemande
9. Canzone
10. Courante
11. Pavane
12. Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #392983 in Music
• Released on: 1998-05-26
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Gwozdz makes the saxophone the greatest instrument invented!
Lawrence Gwozdz performs wonderful contemporary music with the nuances that many other performers would miss. He blurs the line between "normal" range and altissimo perfectly. Gwozdz plays with the versatility of a woodwind, the power of the brass, and the lyricism of the strings. If you appreciate music at all, you must have this CD!

The power of the saxophone at the hands of a master!
This CD is one of the best recordings of contemporary recital music for the alto saxophone. With the exception of a Baroque dance and a moment of Romance, this recording encompasses music of the Twentieth Century dedicated to Sigurd Rascher. Presenting a culturally diverse repetory, Gwozdz demonstrates an impeccable versatility in his ability to interpret the cultural nuances of such pieces as _Variations on Taki's "Kojo no Tsuki"_ by the Japanese composer Sasamori. Along with Lois Leventhal, Gwozdz gives a flawless performance of some extremely difficult passages of saxophone music (particularly in the alto duet!). If you want to hear a great performance of some awesome music, this is the CD for you! The altissimo passages alone are worth buying this recording -- no to undermind the rich blend of the alto saxophone and piano, the honor given to Sigurd Rascher (this centuries foremost authority on saxophone performance), and the aweinspiring rendetion of "Meditations" from _Thais_. If you love the saxophone, then you will love this recording!

Lawrence Gwozdz: Superb Classical Saxphonist
Based upon this CD at least, simply put, Lawrence Gwozdz is probably the best classical saxophonist alive today. His control and sweetness in the altissimo register seems impossible if I hadn't heard it myself, and his tone is almost certainly exactly what Adolphe Sax intended his instrument to sound like.

I can't claim that this recording doesn't show some minor weaknesses though. The second track, (the first movement of the Sasamori), he appears to have some slight breathing problems (several phrases cut off abruptly from breathing), and at least one early entry after a piano interlude. I also find that he has a somewhat annoying formant in his tone in the pitches around the middle of the staff (top few notes of the lower register). That's very common on alto saxophone in particular.

These, however, are small concerns compared to the very strong positive aspects of this CD, and it's certainly not as if I could play any better (quite the opposite!).