Sonatine

French composer, Pierre Max Dubois (1930-1995) significantly contributed to the wind repertoire. Sonatine for Alto Saxophone and Piano was published in 1968 and remains prominent as a more unusual addition to the ensemble repertoire.

Dubois' music is characteristically light-hearted with unusual harmonic and melodic textures. Sonatine reflects Dubois' compositional characteristics with a typical performance lasting about eight minutes. Dubois' work is suitable for advanced performers, addressing virtuosic features, such as complex rhythms, particularly flourishing semiquaverpassages, variations in articulation, chromaticism, and exploitation of the ensemble, among other aspects. Sonatine is essential to the advanced Alto Saxophone repertoire as Dubois' work makes for an exciting, varied and enjoyable performance for players and audiences alike.