Alexander Tcherepnin

Sonatine Sportive

As the title suggests, this sonatine interprets musical elements of sport. With this in mind, Tcherepnine's Sonatine is a highly amusing, energetic and fun piece to play for saxophonists.

Russian born composer AlexandreTcherepnine (1899-1977), moved to Paris with his family in 1921 following the increasingly hostile political environment in Russia. During WWII, Tcherepnine's composing activities virtually stopped. However, just before doing so, he composed his Sonatine Sportive.

The first movement interprets boxers, with pulsating quavers in the piano part representing a defense. Movement two suggests a rest that the two players take before the 'racing' third movement, written in the form of a canon. With such stimulating and imaginative creativity, Tcherepnine's Sonatine is a fun addition to the saxophonist's repertoire.