Good Evening Mr Sax - with Gerard McChrystal and William Godfree

Now Professor of Saxophone at Trinity Laban Conservatoire,  Gerard McChrystal has won a raft of saxophone awards, performed in over 35 countries worldwide and collaborated with, among many others, Philip Glass, The Soweto String Quartet, Rambert Dance Co and the Bros Saxophone quartet.

Composer, pianist, cabaret artist Willam Godfree will be familiar to Salon Music audiences from his splendid portrayals of Michael Flanders in our Flanders and Swann evenings, and of Noel Coward earlier this year.

PROGRAMME

Together William and Gerard will present a history of the saxophone from its invention in the 1840s by the Belgian instrument make Adolphe Sax - featuring original music written for the saxophone in the 1850s right through to William’s ‘Ballad in Blue’. Stopping in the US during the 1920’s for saxophone vaudeville star Rudy Weideoft’s witty pieces like Sax-O-Phun and Deep Purple. 

The virtuosity of Gerard's alto saxophone contrasts with the oboe like sound of the soprano as well - as some baroque music on the sopranino saxophone.

SUPPER:

The concert will be followed by a buffet supper as always.

TICKET 'PRICE':

Because we are not a public venue we cannot 'sell' tickets. Instead we ask you to make a donation - suggested minimum £35 per ticket.
Of this, £5 from each ticket will go to the Camden Music Trust. The Trust supports music in Camden schools with particular emphasis on children who might not otherwise have access to instruments or music lessons.
The remaining £30 enables us to pay our musicians a reasonable fee with any surplus going towards the cost of supper and wine.

ABOUT THE PLAYERS:

Gerard McChrystal

Gerard McChrystal was born in Derry, N. Ireland. He was the first student to graduate from the RNCM with three awards in 1986. He did postgrad at The Guildhall School, London. During his year in London he won a number of awards including a scholarship to study at Northwestern University, Chicago with Fred Hemke. He was awarded his masters degree in 1988.

Gerard has performed in over 35 countries including China, USA, New Zealand, Korea, South Africa and Azerbaijan. His main ambition is to develop collaborations and encourage composers, especially from Ireland, to write for the saxophone. Gerard has made 15 cds with orchestras including BBC NOW, Ulster Orchestra and London Musici. His saxophone series are published in London and Melbourne.

For more see his website.

William Godfree

William Godfree was born in London in 1954. He studied piano and composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and for many years combined a career in teaching with a busy schedule of composition, conducting and performing. In 2009 he left the teaching profession to devote more time to his music.Amongst his compositions are several suites for school orchestra, song-cycles, stage-musicals, and chamber works.For some years he played with the jazz band Add Hock and performs in cabaret with Hampshire MP Michael Mates.

For more see his website.