Rhosymedre

In 1920, Ralph Vaughan Williams composed three preludes for organ based on Welsh hymn tunes, a set that quickly established itself in the organ repertoire. Of the three, Rhosymedre, sometimes known as “Lovely,” has become the most popular. The hymn tune used in this prelude was written by a 19th century Welsh composer, J.D. Edwards, and is a very simple melody made up almost entirely of scale tones and upbeat skips of a fourth. (Source: Walter Beeler). The arrangement for saxophone quartet is provided by Donald Fabian.

"Minuet" from Le Tombeau de Couperin

"Minuet" is the fifth movement from Le Tombeau de Couperin, a suite by Maurice Ravel. Originally a piano composition, Ravel himself orchestrated it later. Each of the six movements is dedicated to a friend who died in World War I. The arrangement for saxophone quartet is provided by Christoph Enzel. (Source: John Rabinowitz)

Fugue à La Gigue

When Gustav Holst was commissioned to write Hammersmith for the BBC Wireless Military Band in 1928, he felt rather out of practice in orchestrating for the medium. For some years he had had the idea of arranging some Bach fugues for brass and military band, so he set himself the task of scoring the Organ Fugue in G Major BWV 577 (from Preludes, Fugues and Fantasias). Holst, rather than Bach, called it Fugue à La Gigue. The piece made an ideal exercise and Holst’s brilliant dovetailing of the counterpoint between different instruments shows his mastery. The piece is technically demanding and the characteristic unison clarinet writing suggests the orchestral conception of a large wind ensemble rather than a band. It was this conception which the composer carried forward into Hammersmith. (Source: Publisher)