Alexander Glasunow

Concerto in E flat major op. 109

Piano reduction by Martin Schelhaas
With an Urtext solo part as well as an arranged solo part
by Carina Rascher

The Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra is the last work by Alexander Glazunov; since its first performance in 1934, it has become part of the standard saxophone repertoire. The only autograph score still in existence today is the handwritten dedication score given by Glazunov to Sigurd Raschèr (Raschèr was the founder and leader of the well-known and innovative Raschèr Saxophone Quartet). This score contains the original version of the work without the changes that were still made in the proof of the orchestral score and the composer's complete cadenza, which was later shortened. The autograph also contains some playing instructions by Raschèr. The correspondence between Raschèr and Glazunov documents the composer's thoughts on the work and his recommendations with regard to the instrumentation of the accompanying string orchestra.

This first scholarly-critical edition of a work by Glazunov contains an informative introduction with comments on the composition as well as a facsimile and a critical report. Both the complete and the abridged version of the cadenza are presented in the solo part, as well as a cadenza by Raschèr which the composer authorized.