ITALIAN SAXOPHONE QUARTET

FEDERICO MONDELCI
soprano saxophone
MARCO GERBONI alto saxophone
MARIO MARZI tenor saxophone
MASSIMO MAZZONI baritone saxophone


The Italian Saxophone Quartet was formed in 1982, bringing together four of the most established soloists in their field. In 1984 and 1985, they won several chamber music competitions and in particular, were awarded first prize in the ‘Premier Ancona’ by Goffredo Petrassi. Their interpretations of contemporary music have received special recognition and this is an area of the repertoire, that the Quartet has continued to promote in their concert activities.

The Italian Saxophone Quartet have performed extensively, giving more than 400 concerts in the Italy, USA, Japan, Greece, Germany, France, Russia, Lebanon and Sweden. Alongside their performances in the major concert halls throughout Italy, Europe, Russia, U.S.A., the Quartet have frequently broadcast on Radio and recorded 3 CD’s, including a CD on the Pentaphon label devoted to contemporary music.

During the 2004-2005 season, the Italian Saxophone Quartet continue their busy schedule with important appearances in Italy, which include several performances in Europe and USA.



REVIEWS


L'ORIENT LE JOUR
L'intelligence des géométries musicales les plus complexes ne les a jamais conduit à une lecture purement cérébrale car leur sûreté technique leur laissait toute latitude pour imprimer aux œuvres la marque d'une sensibilitè à l'èventail très riche.
"The four saxophonist virtuosi were applauded with a standing ovation”.
 Wolfsburger Allgemeine

The four musicians achieved here a sound  which sounded so much better then the original instruments this music was written for. It was refreshing to hear that the music of Gabrielis was not performed with sacred "solemnity" normally associated with this composer but with  the alive tempi which characterised this infectiously good concert.  
"Your playing of my music was wonderful. So much heart!  I`ve never heard such sensitive musical playing from a quartet of four saxophones".
Joe Harnell

REPUBBLICA
...There was musicality to burn-and technique likewise. Intense applause. They could have gone on playing for us all night.
Michelangelo Zurletti

DIE WELT
Das "Ensemble Italiano di Sassofoni" bot ein anspruchsvolles farbiges Programm, das besonders die Stilsicherheit der jungen Künstler bezüglich der Interpretation von Musik  unterschiedlichster Epochen duetlich werden ließ. Die Werke im Programm wurden von den italienischen Saxophonvirtuosen geradezu hinreißend gespielt.

BERGAMO OGGI
Sostenuti da una tecnica raffinata  i quattro  sassofonisti pesaresi hanno saputo condurre sul filo rigoroso e convincente dell'interpretazione più genuina e spontanea un programma studiato  con sapiente competenza e  musicalità.  Pubblico tanto sorpreso quanto soddisfatto e caloroso negli applausi.
Antonio Brena

IL MESSAGGERO
The Italian Saxophone Quartet boasts a notable career, and has placed itself squarely among the most interesting groups on the Italian musical scene, as much for the the originality of its instrumentation as for the unquestionable quality of its performance.
Carlo Boschi

GAZZETTA DEL SUD
...A perfect ensemble, so spectacular that it will surely be talked about.
Roberto Messina

IL TEMPO - Roma
 ...la corona della serata vada al sassofono, presentato dai giovani musicisti marchigiani, strumento solitamente degradato che si trasfigura in una nobiltà vocale, esprimendo una umanità  piegata ad ogni trapasso sonoro pregna, di volta in volta di una propria voce, secondo il colore del tempo.
Clara Falcone

IL TEMPO - Roma
Individually they showed secure intuition and mastery of their instrument, and together tight and well-blended ensemble.



THEMATIC REPERTOIRE



Written for the Italian Saxophone Quartet
Stefano Scodanibbio Lucida Sidera
Alessandro Sbordoni Axon
Fabrizio De Rossi Re Allegro Nero
Joe Harnell Screen Themes Suite
Dimitri Nicolau Saxquartet

Contemporary
Salvatore Sciarrino Canzoniere da Scarlatti (1998)
Salvatore Sciarrino Pagine (1998)
Michel Nyman Songs for Tony
Tim Davies Krunch

‘900
Henri Pousseur Vue sur les jardins interdits
Franco Donatoni Rasch
Jannis Xenakis Xas

Transcriptions made by composers
D. Scarlatti
  Gabriel Pierné
Tre pezzi 
Dmitri Shostakovich
  ToninoTesei
Preludio e Fuga
Johann Sebastian Bach
  J.M. Londeix
Prelude and Fugue in F minor

Latino
Paquito d’Rivera The New York Suite
Aldemaro ROMERO Quartett

Pieces influenced by Ethnic Music
Pedro ITURRALDE Suite Ellenica

Original Pieces from  the 20th Century
Alexandr K. GLAZUNOV Quartetto per sassofoni in Si bem magg. op. 109
Jean FRANÇAIX Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones

Jazz and Blues
Paul NAGLE Three Shades of Blues
Phil WOODS Quartet

Transcriptions by members of the ISQ

C. Monteverdi
J.S. Bach
Nino Rota
G.Gershwin
S. Joplin
A. Piazzolla



SAMPLE PROGRAMS


Sample #1

 
Salvatore SCIARRINO Pagine
Alexandr K. GLAZUNOV
1865-1936
Quartetto per sassofoni in Si bem maggiore op. 109
- Allegro Moderato
- Tema con variazioni
- Finale - Allegro moderato
Jean  FRANÇAIX Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones
- Gaguenardise
- Cantilène
- Sérénade comique
Scott JOPLIN The Easy Winners
George GERSHWIN Blues da Un America  a Parigi
HANDY/HOLCOMBE St. Louis Blues
Paul NAGLE Three Shades of Blues
Astor PIAZZOLLA Fugata
Oblivion
Libertango


Sample #2


Piano quintet
George GERSHWIN
(1898-1937)
Rhapsody in Blue
Astor PIAZZOLLA
(1931.1992)
Le Quattro Stagioni
Otoño Porteño
Invierno Porteño
Primavera Porteña
Verano Porteño
Astor PIAZZOLLA
(1931-1992)
Fugata
Libertango