Description
One of the first original compositions written for the saxophone, by one of Sax's closest associates. Jules Demersseman was born on January 9, 1833 in Hondschoote, a small town in the north of France now near the border of Belgium. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1844 in the class of Jean-Louis Tulou and won a first prize in flute in 1845. Demersseman had a career as a pedogogue and soloist, often performing his own compositions. A close friend of Adolphe Sax, he wrote some of the first works ever written for the saxophone, as well as for the saxhorn and for Sax‘s valved trombone, most of which were published by Sax himself.. Demersseman died in Paris on December 1, 1866 at the age of 33.
The work is in the form of a long lyrical episode punctuated with more florid passages which serve as counterpoint to the main melody.. It is important to listen to vocal performances in this style, especially in performing the solo cadenzas, which (in spite of the notation) are not necessarily meant to be performed as virtuoso effects., but rather as a means of displaying expression and beautiful tone.