Sonata No. 1 (Salesian Sonata) for alto saxophone and piano
Composer: Henrique Coe
Year of composition: 2012
Duration: approximately 14 minutes
Video: Concert du Cercle des Étudiants Compositeurs de l’Université de Montréal (23/nov/2013)
Salle Serge-Garant (Université de Montréal – Montréal,QC, Canada)
Mov I: Allegro (0′ – 4’42”)
Mov II: Adagio (4’45” – 9’30”)
Mov III: Presto (9’50” – 13’47”)
Alto Saxophone: Henrique Coe
Piano: Antoine Laporte
Program note:
Sonata No. 1, the Salesian Sonata, for alto saxophone and piano, was written between 2011 and 2013. The title Salesian Sonata is an homage to the Salesians of Don Bosco, as I played for many years in the concert band of the Salesian school in Niterói (Brazil) – where I learned the saxophone – and because I received the First Sacraments in the Basilica at this school.
The Salesian Sonata was premiered on the 23rd of November 2013 by me on the alto saxophone and Antoine Laporte on the piano, at Salle Serge-Garant at the Université de Montréal (Canada) on a concert of the Cercle des Étudiants Compositeurs de l’Université de Montréal. With a total duration of approximately 14 minutes, the piece is divided into three movements: Allegro, Adagio, and Presto.
The first movement is in a sonata-form. The second is a very lyrical AB form. The last movement is in a Rondo form.