Sinta Quartet Method: Graded Repertoire Suggestions

Written to accompany Chops 3: The Sinta Quartet Method

Dan Graser, Zach Stern, Joe Girard, Danny Hawthorne-Foss; authors

Please note, this list is not exhaustive nor restrictive as to difficulty level. The saxophone quartet
repertoire is ever-changing and developing as are the performers!

Intermediate HS
The repertoire in this section accompanies our recommendations in the Sinta Quartet Method
text for smaller repertoire collections that work well for newly-formed ensembles. Rather than
focusing on large-scale saxophone repertoire from the outset, performing smaller transcriptions
enables greater focus early in the group’s development while also encouraging familiarity with
time-periods and genres of music with which the student might otherwise be unfamiliar.

Bach, J.S./Camwell 24 Bach Chorales Jeanne Music

Cowell, Henry Sailor’s Hornpipe (1961) AATB Peermusic
Debussy/Zajac Golliwog’s Cakewalk (1908) Lauren Keiser Music
Debussy/Zajac The Little Shepherd (1908) Lauren Keiser Music
Ulman, Barry Pollywog’s Lake Talk (1986) AATB Medici Music Press
Various/Patrick & Rascher Five Centuries for Saxophone Quartet SATB or AATB Bourne Music
Various/Patrick & Rascher Masterpieces for Saxophone Quartet Bourne Music
Various/Teal Ten Saxophone Quartets AATB George Schirmer
Various/Voxman & Block First Book of Saxophone Quartets AATB Southern Music
Various/Voxman Quartet Repertoire for Saxophone AATB Rubank
Zajac, Elaine Five Miniatures (1974) Lauren Keiser Music

Intermediate Undergraduate/Advanced HS
While still including some transcriptions, this category features many examples of what have
become known as, “standard,” saxophone quartet repertoire. While venturing beyond the tonal
language of the shorter classical works listed for earlier study, the harmonic and melodic
language here is still quite accessible and makes for a good bridge into the increasingly
chromatic language found in later works.

Albéniz, Isaac/Mule Trois Pieces (arr. 1922) Alphonse Leduc

Bozza, Eugène Andante et Scherzo (1936) Alphonse Leduc
Bozza, Eugène Nuages (1946) Alphonse Leduc
Debussy/Teal Andantino et Vif from String Quartet No. 1 (1893) Lauren Keiser Music
Del Borgo, Elliott Quartet for Saxophones (1987) Dorn Publications
Desenclos, Alfred Quatuor pour saxophones (1964) Alphonse Leduc
Dubois, Pierre Max Quatuor pour saxophones (1962) Alphonse Leduc
Dubois, Pierre Max Three Petite Sonatas a Scarlatti (1990) Éditions Billaudot
Florio, Caryl Quartette (Allegro de Concert) (1877) Edition Peters
Francaix, Jean Petit Quatuor (1935) Schott
Handel, G.F./Formeau The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (1748) Éditions Billaudot
Gibbons, Orlando/Hemke Fantazia Southern Music
Hass, Chris Evan Polar Vortex (2015) Murphy Music Press
Jeanjean, F. & M. Quatuor pour saxophones (1949) Editions Salabert
Iturralde, Pedro Suite Hellenique (1994) Lemoine
Iturralde, Pedro Pequeña Czarda (1997) Real Musical
Lantier, Pierre Andante et Scherzetto (1942) Éditions Billaudot
Maslanka, David Mountain Roads (1997) Maslanka Press
Mendelssohn/Teal Presto from Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14 (1828) Lauren Keiser Music
Mendelssohn/Teal Spinning Song (1843) Lauren Keiser Music
Peck, Russell Drastic Measures (1976) Dorn Publications
Piazzolla, Astor/Voirpy Fuga y Misterio (1968) Tonos Music
Rivier, Jean Grave et Presto (1938) Éditions Billaudot
Singelée, J.B./Lefebvre Allegro de Concert (1859) Carl Fischer
Singelée, J.B. Premier Quatuor, Op. 53 (1858) Resolute Music

Advanced Undergraduate
Having worked through several standards in the previous category, for the advancing
saxophonist this list includes many, “new standard,” works for quartet. Because of the relative
youth of the saxophone quartet as an ensemble type, many pieces of standard repertoire were
only just recently written as you can see from the date listings. The language and technical
demands of these pieces is slightly more advanced specifically regarding range and control.

Barber, Samuel/arr. van der Adagio for Strings (1936) Global Music Facilities
Linden
Browne, Matthew Ancient Machines (2011) Maestoso Music
Browning, Zack Howler Back (2004) Composer
Carter, Elliott Canonic Suite (1939) AAAA Associated Music Pub.
Chambers, Evan The Trouble With the Wind (1991) Composer
Chowenhill, Richard In Solitude I Sit (2017) Composer
Collins, Harrison Drive (2019) Murphy Music Press
Cuong, Viet Prized Possessions (1994-95) Composer
Denton, Sawyer Midnight Run (2017) Composer
Dzubay, David DI/CON[VER(GENCE/SIONS)] (1988) Needham Publishing
Dzubay, David Lament (2015) Pro Nova Music
Escaich, Thierry Tango Virtuoso (1991) Billaudot
Etezady, Roshanne Keen (2004) Murphy Music Press
Flagello, Gala Dabble (2019) Just A Theory Press
Garrett, Keaton Idling (2019) Murphy Music Press
Glazunov, Alexander Saxophone Quartet in Bb Major, Op. 109 (1932) Belaieff
Goldstein, Perry Blow! (1993) Reed Music Pty.
Goldstein, Perry Fault Lines Reed Music Pty.
Goldstein, Perry Filaments of Yesterday (2005) Reed Music Pty.
Goldstein, Perry Flex (2007) Reed Music Pty.
Goldstein, Perry Motherless Child Variations (2002) Reed Music Pty.
Goldstein, Perry Pieces of Elsewhere (2005) Reed Music Pty.
Gordon, Michael The Low Quartet (1985) BBBB Red Poppy Music
Grieg, Edvard/Janse Aus Holbergs Zeit (1884) De Haske
Harlin, Patrick Molasses (2012) Composer
Hass, Chris Evan Liquid Metal (2021) Murphy Music Press
Hass, Chris Evan Volcanic Ash (2017) Murphy Music Press
Higdon, Jennifer Bop (2004) Lawdon Press
Hodkinson, Sydney Snippets (1954) Theodore Presser
Company
Kechley, David Rush (2002) Pine Valley Press
Lacour, Guy Quatuor (1969) Éditions Billaudot
Lago, Guillermo Ciudades (2011-15) Composer
de Leeuw, Ton Saxophone Quartet (1993) Donemus
Lennon, John Anthony Elysian Bridges (2012) Dorn Publications
Leszczynski, John They Might Be Gods (2009) Composer
Levy, Matthew Above (2013) Composer
Li, Xinyan Voice of Dong (2011) Composer
Ligeti, György Six Bagatelles (1953) Schott Music
Lindveit, Ryan Exuberant Turns (2014) Composer
Love, Joel In Memoriam (2015) Murphy Music Press
Mackey, John Unquiet Spirits (2012) Ostimusic
Maslanka, David Recitation Book (2006) Maslanka Press
Maslanka, David Songs for the Coming Day (2012) Maslanka Press
Mellits, Marc Black (2008/12) Dacia Music
Moller, Natalie Phantoms (2013) Fama Nova Publishing
Nyman, Michael Songs for Tony (1993) Chester Music
Nagao, Jun Quatuor pour saxophones (2002) Hal Leonard
Pegram, Jules Hell or High Water (2014) JPEG Music
Prestamo, Joseph Sax Machine (2013) Composer
Piazzolla, Astor/Voirpy Four for Tango (1988) Lemoine
Piazzolla, Astor/Voirpy Histoire du Tango (1985) Lemoine
Pierné, Gabriel Introduction et variations sur une ronde populaire (1936) Alphonse Leduc
Rogers, John Fitz Prodigal Child (2004) Composer
Schmitt, Florent Saxophone Quartet Op. 102 (1948) Durand
Schumann, R./Bolcom A Schumann Bouquet (2016) EB Marks
Siebert, Aaron The Sobbing of the Phoenix (2019) Composer
Socolofsky, Annika Bulgarity (2013) Composer
Ticheli, Frank Back Burner (1988) Southern Music
Torke, Michael May and June (2010) Boosey & Hawkes
Torke, Michael July (1995) Boosey & Hawkes
Turbin, Jason Defibrillator Junkie (2013) Composer
Veldhuis, Jacob Ter Jesus is Coming (2003) Composer
Veldhuis, Jacob Ter Pitch Black (1998) Composer
Veldhuis, Jacob Ter Postnuclear Winterscenario No. 10 (2004) Composer
Wanamaker, Gregory Elegy (2004) Composer
Wanamaker, Gregory Run (2009) Composer
Wanamaker, Gregory Saxophone Quartet (2005) Composer
Wanamaker, Gregory speed metal organum blues (2002) Composer
Woods, Phil Three Improvisations (2001) Music DuBois
Zare, Roger LHC (2012) Composer
Zare, Roger Z4430 (2014) Composer

Graduate School+
The repertoire listed here is suggested for advanced level groups that have worked through
many of the standard pieces of the quartet repertoire. The scope and length of this repertoire
frequently exceeds that of the previous categories. Also, several of these pieces require fluency
with extended techniques from the entire ensemble while also requiring familiarity with non-tonal
melodic/harmonic language.

Agócs, Kati Coloratura (2005) Composer

Akiho, Andy Amalgamation (2009) Composer
Albright, William Fantasy Etudes (1992/3) Edition Peters
Amchin, Ron Double or Nothing (2013) Composer
Amchin, Ron Hotfoot (2012) Composer
Biedenbender, David Anaphora (2017) Bent Space Music
Biedenbender, David Cerulean (2017) Bent Space Music
Biedenbender, David you’ve been talking in your sleep (2010) Bent Space Music
Bozich, Joseph Babel (2014) Composer
Bresnick, Martin Every Thing Must Go (2007) Carl Fischer
Bresnick, Martin Mending Time (2019) Composer
Browne, Matthew Hallucinations (2021) Maestoso Music
Bryars, Gavin Alaric I or II (1989) Schott Music
Dvořák, Antonin/Hemke String Quartet No. 12 “American” (1893) Arranger
Donatoni, Franco Rasch (1990) Ricordi
Dundee, Corey The… of my… are an… (2016) Composer
Escaich, Thierry Le Bal (2003) Éditions Billaudot
Feld, Jindrich Quatuor (1981) Alphonse Leduc
Garrop, Stacy The Flight of Icarus (2012) Theodore Presser
Company
Glass, Philip Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra (1995) Chester Music
Gotkovsky, Ida Quatuor de Saxophones (1988) Éditions Billaudot
Haas, Georg Friedrich Saxophone Quartet (2014) Universal Edition
Haddad, Saad Nashwa (2018) Dib Press
Higdon, Jennifer Short Stories (1996) Lawdon Press
Itoh, Takuma Echolocation (2009) Resolute Music
Keuris, Tristan Music for Saxophones (1986) Novello & Co
Laganella, David Leafless Trees (2010) Composer
Leroux, Philippe Du Souffle (2003) Éditions Billaudot
Kuster, Kristin Breath Beneath (2004) Composer
Kuster, Kristin Red Pine (2014) Composer
Ligeti, Lukas Frozen State of Song(1990/93) Composer
Lindveit, Ryan Hybrid Instinct (2015) Composer
Ludwig, David Josquin Microludes (2012) David Ludwig Music
Lukáš, Zdeněk Rondo for 4 Saxophones, Op. 70 (1970) Composer
Mackey, Steve Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (2005) Boosey & Hawkes
Mead, Andrew Saxophone Quartet No. 1 (2003) Murphy Music Press
Mead, Andrew Saxophone Quartet No. 2 (2003) Murphy Music Press
Mellits, Marc Ex Machina (2017) Dacia Music
O’Halloran, Emma Night Music (2014) Composer
Pann, Carter The Mechanics (2013) Theodore Presser
Company
Raman, Suby Mirapakaya (2014) Composer
Romero, Aldemaro Saxophone Quartet (1976) Antes Edition
Ryan, Bill Hard Line (2014) Composer
Sciarrino, Salvatore Pagine (1998) Ricordi
Simon, Carlos Catch on Fire (2020) Composer
Ware, Evan Returnings (2013) Composer
Weesner, Anna Vamp (2016) Composer
Wolfe, Julia Cha (2015) Red Poppy Music
Wuorinen, Charles Saxophone Quartet (1992) Edition Peters
Xenakis, Iannis XAS (1987) Editions Salabert
Zupko, Mischa Quantum Shift (2017) Sarché Publishing

Concertos
The following are a selection of pieces for saxophone quartet as a featured soloist with either
Wind Ensemble or Orchestra. These are suitable to be performed by more advanced
saxophone quartets since they require a high level of musical maturity, technical control,
extended range, and a strong grasp of extended techniques in some cases, as well as facility
with non-tonal writing.

Biedenbender, David Severance (2019) Bent Space Music

Bolcom, William Concerto Grosso (2000/2010) EB Marks
Browne, Matthew Cabinet of Curiosities (2016) Maestoso Music
Colgrass, Michael Urban Requiem (1995) Colgrass Music
Glass, Philip Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra (1995) Chester Music
Mackey, Steven Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (2005) Boosey & Hawkes
Maslanka, David Concerto (2012) Maslanka Press
McAllister, Scott X2 LydMusic
Sekiguchi, Kenichi Ikuno "El espejo de la angustia" ("The Mirror of Angst") Composer
Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra in Three
Movements
Yi, Chen Ba Yin (2001/15) Theodore Presser
Company