Second Tale – Saxofon Concentus

Between the experimental and the traditional

The saxophone has proven to be of great interest to contemporary composers. Its vast expressive register ranges from the rawest, most raucous sounds to the tenderest of melodic lines. There is something deeply expressive, almost human, in the sound of the saxophone, whether it is tender or raw, singing or screaming. Saxofon Concentus has become an important voice and a valuable opportunity for contemporary Norwegian composers, where the group has served both as a laboratory and a performance arena for the most topical trends in contemporary music.

A common denominator for the music on this CD might be “musical stories”. An awareness of musical story-telling artistry is clearly delineated as early as in the title of Lasse Thoresen´s broadly scaled “Narrative for Saxophone Quartet”. As in any written story, there are dramatic situations and conflicts that need to be resolved: motifs and ornaments that are reminiscent of folk music, and outbursts that are inspired by the French spectralist school´s refined treatment of sound. These elements combine to form a unique piece of music, which can be experienced both as distinctively Norwegian and internationally modern at the same time. The other three composers represented on this album established a composer´s association during their study years ironically called the “Pling-Plong Generation”, but claims that contemporary music no longer needs to be identified as unfriendly and incomprehensible, even if its modern and experimental.