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The Soul of the Saxophone

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In the space of just two weeks, musicians and music-lovers remember the life and death of two of the most famous saxophonists known to the world: Eric Dolphy, who passed away on June 29th, 1964 and Albert Ayler, who was born on July 13th, 1936. Each of them left an indelible mark on the world, and both pushed the boundaries of jazz: Ayler in the heyday of the avant-garde scene in the late sixties, and Dolphy earlier in the decade through his use of extended techniques and the bass clarinet. The Library of Congress was fortunate enough to receive the Eric Dolphy papers in 2014.

To pay tribute to these two saxophone greats, we are highlighting the saxophone music we have in the collection. You may be surprised to learn that the NLS Music Section has a wide assortment of saxophone music for jazz and classical musicians alike.

General Courses

For those who are just learning the saxophone, we have a wide variety of course material for you to get more familiar with the instrument.

Braille

Standard of Excellence: E-flat Alto Saxophone (BRM32993) by Bruce Pearson

Breeze-easy Method: Saxophone (BRM35537)

Yamaha Band Student: Tenor Saxophone (BRM35222 ) by Sandy Feldstein

Belwin Band Builder: Alto Saxophone in E-flat (BRM05308 [part 1], BRM08443 [part 2], BRM08504 [part 3]) by Wayne Douglas

Belwin Band Builder: Tenor Saxophone (BRM08484 [part 1], BRM08436 [part 2], BRM08511 [part 3]) by Wayne Douglas

Belwin Band Builder: Baritone Saxophone (BRM08482 [part 1], BRM08437 [part 2], BRM08501 [part 3]) by Wayne Douglas

Audio
Intro to the Alto Sax for the Visually Impaired (DBM02491) by Bill Brown

Intro to the Tenor Sax for the Visually Impaired (DBM02635) by Bill Brown

Intro to the Soprano Sax for the Visually Impaired (DBM02633) by Bill Brown

Photo of the Count Basie Orchesra a the Savoy Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
The band at the Savoy Ballroom. Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Russell Lee, Apr. 1941. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8c00885/ (see: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa2000020170/PP/)

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Standard of Excellence: E-flat Alto Saxophone (LPM00681) by Bruce Pearson

Standard of Excellence: B-flat Tenor Saxophone (LPM00671) by Bruce Pearson

Jazz and Pop Music

Braille

Without a Song (BRM20313) by Vincent Youmans; transcription by Coleman Hawkins

Feelin’ Zero (BRM20314) by Coleman Hawkins

Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (BRM09403) by James A. Bland

Disorder at the Border (BRM20312) by Coleman Hawkins

Georgie Porgie (BRM20311) by George Auld and Al Killian

Mood to be Wooed, Three O’Clock Jump (BRM13419) by Duke Ellington

Theme from Shaft (BRM23096) by Isaac Hayes

Audio (these are all for the alto saxophone)

All My Loving (DBM02803) by Bill Brown

All Out of Love (DBM02805) by Bill Brown

Baby I’m a Want You (DBM02807) by Bill Brown

Best of My Love (DBM02707) by Bill Brown

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (DBM02709) by Bill Brown

Close to You (DBM02711) by Bill Brown

Dock of the Bay (DBM02713) by Bill Brown

Georgia on My Mind (DBM02715) by Bill Brown

The Greatest Love of All (DBM02717) by Bill Brown

Ice Castles (Theme) (DBM02719) by Bill Brown

In the Mood (DBM02723) by Bill Brown

Just the Way You Are (DBM02721) by Bill Brown

Love Story (Theme) (DBM02725) by Bill Brown

Moon River (DBM02727) by Bill Brown

Over the Rainbow (DBM02728) by Bill Brown

The Rose (DBM02729) by Bill Brown

Summertime (DBM02731) by Bill Brown

Tijuana Taxi (DBM02733) by Bill Brown

A Time for Us (DBM02801)

Top of the World (DBM02735)

What a Wonderful World (DBM02737) by Bill Brown

You’re the Inspiration (DBM02739) by Bill Brown

We also have a fair number of audio courses of hymns and Christmas tunes for the alto saxophone, if you are interested.

Classical Solos

 Braille

Douze études-Caprices pour Saxophone (BRM28496) by Eugène Bozza

Pièce brève (BRM29100) by Eugène Bozza

Sonate for Tenor Saxophone and Piano (BRM25716) by James DiPasquale

Quatrième Sonate (BRM22090) by George Frideric Handel

Concertino de Camera, pour Saxophone-Alto et Onze Instruments (BRM28497) by Jacques Ibert

Concerto in E-flat for Alto Saxophone and Piano (BRM27603) by Aleksandr Glazunov

Two Bourrèes (BRM23159) by Henry Purcell

Pièce en Forme d’Habanera (BRM32049) by Maurice Ravel

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Minuet from Haffner, K. 250 (LPM00285) by W.A. Mozart

There are many more than what has been listed here, so if you do not come across something in particular you are looking for, please get in contact with us and we’ll be happy to help!

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