Concerto for Bass Saxophone and Strings (1999) was commissioned by bass
saxophonist Andreas van Zoelen (with generous support from the Broeker Fund for
New Music) and is dedicated with appreciation and admiration to him. Van Zoelen is
committed to enhancing the very small existing bass saxophone repertoire through
supporting the creation and performance of new works. The subtitle of the first
movement ("...a continuum of dreams...") could be seen as a sort of subtitle for the
entire work that sets the mood and provides unification for the entire piece. The first
movement is a slow and ethereal chaconne. The strings and the saxophone interact in
various ways throughout this movement in non-traditional form. There are actually
two "ground bass" themes, one is introduced at the beginning with pizzicato strings
but soon moves to the background (although it is almost always present). The second
is presented near the end of the work and eventually the two are combined. The
interval of an "augmented fourth" (tritone) has special use throughout the movement
as a variety of themes and motifs are transformed throughout. The second movement
is a cadenza for the unaccompanied saxophone. The third movement is a fast and
wild toccata. The saxophone plays almost without rest for the entire movement. A
middle section recalls the theme of "augmented fourths" from the first movement.
Heavy use is made of pizzicato strings. The saxophone part for this movement is
highly virtuosic, exploring the full possibilities and range of the instrument.