The Whole Horn Curriculum The Saxophone Program Reference Third Year

Reference companion · Third Year

Third Year

Researched, cited facts about the works, études and technique of this year. This page describes the literature; it is not the program's own teaching. For the year as the program sets it out, see The Saxophone Program.

Scales and technique, mapped to The Whole Horn

Requirements are quoted verbatim from the two program documents. The free app practices the twelve major scales up to two octaves; the full range and the other scale families are in the Full Studio (one-time purchase).1

RequirementSourceIn The Whole HornTier
Students should master all major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, extending to three octaves where possible. Chromatic scales and arpeggios should be practiced across the full range of the instrument. Introduction of diminished and augmented arpeggios.C2C, Third YearNatural, harmonic and melodic minor; chromatic scale; diminished and augmented triads (chromatic studio); “Full range” OpenFull Studio
Begin introducing the basics of altissimo playing (higher register) and other extended techniques such as growling or multiphonics, as appropriate to the student’s level and interest.C2C, Third YearOvertones and voicing; extended range (growl and multiphonics are not in the app)Full Studio
Performance of all Major and Harmonic minor scales to include 3rds + arpeggiated Tonic and Dominant 7th chords.Study 2020, exam lineScales in 3rds (major and harmonic minor) OpenFull Studio

Repertoire 10 works annotated

Alain Crépin (b. 1954)2
Céline Mandarine

alto saxophone and piano · Henry Lemoine3

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, core repertoire (“Mandarine”)

About

  • Alain Crépin is a Belgian saxophonist and composer, professor of saxophone at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, who presides over the Adolphe Sax competitions in Dinant.2

Level

  • A retailer lists it for ABRSM Alto Saxophone (2022–2025) and Trinity College London Alto Saxophone (2017–2022), Grade 5.3

Guy Lacour (1932–2013)4
Belle Époque (Évocation)

alto saxophone and piano · Billaudot (GB 4249)5

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, core repertoire

Level

  • A retailer rates it 2–3 on a scale from 0 (beginner) to 9 (beyond Grade 8).6

Robert Planel (1908–1994)7
Suite romantique

alto saxophone and piano · Alphonse Leduc8

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3 core and Year 7 additional

About

  • Six movements: Sérénade italienne, Danseuses, Chanson triste, Valse sentimentale, Conte de Noël, Chanson du muletier.7

Demands

  • The same retailer gives No. 4 about two minutes and notes a wide range, complex rhythms, articulation and dynamic contrasts.8

Level

  • A retailer (Groth Music) describes No. 4, “Valse sentimentale,” as “for intermediate to advanced level saxophonists.”8

Robert Druet
Sérénade impromptu

alto saxophone and piano · Billaudot (GB 4803)9

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, core repertoire

Level

  • A retailer rates it 7 on a scale from 0 (beginner) to 9 (beyond Grade 8).9

Émile Lesieur
Sarabande et menuet

1996 edition (BnF record) · alto saxophone and piano · G. Billaudot10

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, core repertoire

Jacques Ibert (1890–1962)11
Aria

1930 (original for voice and piano) · alto saxophone and piano (arranged) · Alphonse Leduc (AL 19675)11

Listed in: Study (2020), Years 3 and 4, additional repertoire

About

  • Written first for voice and piano; this edition is arranged for alto saxophone and piano.11

Level

  • The distributor’s description (Hal Leonard): “technical difficulties that would make it ideal for an upper intermediate player.”11

Georges Bizet
L’Arlésienne (Intermezzo)

Suite No. 2 arranged by Ernest Guiraud, first performed 187912

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, additional repertoire (arranged)

About

  • The incidental music was limited to 25 players; for the orchestral suite, Bizet added the alto saxophone, which is prominent in the Prélude.12

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Six Studies in English Folk Song

1926 · Stainer & Bell (saxophone arrangement)1314

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3, additional repertoire (arranged)

About

  • Originally written for the cellist May Mukle with piano.13
  • In each study the solo line states the tune, then the piano gives the folk song under an ornamented solo line.13

Jean Absil (1893–1974)15
Sonate, op. 115

1963 · alto saxophone and piano · Lemoine1615

Listed in: Study (2020), Year 3 and Year 7, additional repertoire

Jean-Baptiste Singelée (1812–1875)17
Fantaisie, op. 89, and other works

Listed in: C2C (2024), Third Year (composer named); Study (2020), Year 7 additional (Fantaisie, op. 89, soprano saxophone and piano)

About

  • A friend of Adolphe Sax, Singelée wrote more than 30 works for the new instrument, including the Premier Quatuor, op. 53 (1857), probably the first saxophone quartet.18

Level

  • Listed at Level 5 on the NYSSMA tenor saxophone solo list (Ronkin edition, for soprano saxophone), as shown by the retailer Hickey’s.19

Étude and method collections 6

Also listed

Works and books the program names for this year for which only the composer’s dates could be confirmed.

Sources

  1. The Whole Horn web app (thewholehorn.com/play/), free and Full Studio contents
  2. fr.wikipedia.org: Alain Crepin
  3. justflutes.com: celine mandarine alain crepin
  4. en.wikipedia.org: Guy Lacour
  5. billaudot.com: contributor artwork
  6. justflutes.com: 1317244
  7. en.wikipedia.org: Robert Planel
  8. grothmusic.com: p 148252 suite romantique no 4 valse sentimentale alto saxophone and p
  9. justflutes.com: 1119428
  10. catalogue.bnf.fr: cb39621882p
  11. halleonard.com: aria
  12. theoperaticsaxophone.com: georges bizet larlesienne
  13. en.wikipedia.org: Six Studies in English Folk Song
  14. ficksmusic.com: vaughan williams 6 studies in english folk song arr for e flat saxopho
  15. en.wikipedia.org: Jean Absil
  16. grothmusic.com: p 37484 sonata op 115 alto sax and piano
  17. en.wikipedia.org: Jean Baptiste Singelée
  18. adolphesax.com: jean baptiste singelee 2 2
  19. hickeys.com: sku119896 singelee jean baptiste ronkin fantaisie op 89
  20. carlfischer.com: o2929 exercises in all the practical keys
  21. en.wikipedia.org: Joachim Andersen (composer
  22. lekiosqueamusique.com: 3651 24 petites etudes opus 33 saxophone 9790043037002
  23. billaudot.com: gb3986 6
  24. en.wikipedia.org: Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier
  25. elargonauta.com: 979 0 046 20209 4
  26. Northwestern University, Bienen School of Music: Bachelor of Music saxophone audition requirements
  27. en.wikipedia.org: Hyacinthe Klosé
  28. imslp.org: 25 Études de mécanisme pour le Saxophone (Klosé, Hyacinthe Eléonore
  29. sintafest.com
  30. en.wikipedia.org: Jules Demersseman
  31. en.wikipedia.org: Alan Hovhaness