Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
”Cocktail Concerto”

Written: Upcoming
Duration: ca. 16'
Commissioned by Christopher Creviston
for solo alto saxophone and orchestra (2-2-2-2 / 4-2-3-1 / 3 Percussion, timpani (4), keyboard, strings)
Upcoming World Premiere: Knoxville Symphony, Aram Demirjian, Music Director, and Conductor, Christopher Creviston, Alto Saxophone, date and time TBA.
Publisher: Bill Holab Music

PROGRAM NOTE (In-Progress)

One of life's greatest joys is to occasionally enjoy a well-made cocktail, so it's not surprising that classic cocktails figure prominently in some of the world's greatest films and TV shows, whether as quotes in iconic scenes or even as the titles of the films. Many of these quotes, titles, and drink names are delightfully colorful and evocative, so they provide the perfect point of departure for the movements of this alto sax concerto.

In the 1964 film Goldfinger, James Bond (aka 007) specifies that he likes his gin martinis "shaken, not stirred." The first movement, Shaken, No Stirred, uses this famous James Bond phrase as a musical jumping-off point and goes for the excitement of a movie thriller. The second movement, Cosmopolitan, takes its name from the vodka-based signature drink of choice enjoyed by the main characters in the New York-based 1998-2004 TV series Sex and The City. The melodic lines in this movement are inspired by music from around the world and are mixed together in a colorful, quasi-multicultural tapestry. The jazzy third movement, Some Like It Hot, draws inspiration from the 1959 movie of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe, which coincidentally features a saxophone player named Joe, played by Tony Curtis. Finally, the Latin-American-inspired last movement, Practical Magic, takes its cue from the 1998 film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, where the main characters enjoy midnight margaritas.

Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (aka "Cocktail Concerto") was commissioned by Christopher Creviston and will be premiered by Knoxville Symphony, Aram Demirjian, Music Director, and Conductor.

– RP

Movements should be listed in programs as follows:
I. Shaken, Not Stirred
II. Cosmopolitan
III. Some Like It Hot
IV. Practical Magic