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 MessinaIL 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 |
