ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND EMERGENCE OF THE SWEDISH SAXOPHONE CONCERTO - LARS-ERIK LARSSON, Op.14

BY

ANDERS OLOF LUNDEGÅRD

This document is a review and analysis of Lars-Erik Larsson's Konsert För Saxofon och Stråkorkester, Op.14. The composition is the first Swedish solo concerto for the saxophone, and is one of the earliest compositions of that category. It is presented as being a significant contribution to the development of the art of saxophone playing in Sweden, as well as internationally. Preceding the actual analysis of the Concerto, a biography of Larsson has been given, including various articles of, or about Larsson. The discussion of these articles provides the document with a general background and overview of Larsson and his compositions. After the analytical examination, the Concerto is discussed in context of general features of the concerto genre, covering the period of 1700 until the date of the composition (1934). The goal has been to evaluate what aspects of Larsson's Concerto are classified as being neo-classical. In the process of comparing the Concerto with various compositions and general features of the concerto genre, the author has been seeking to determine the Concerto's uniqueness and its contribution to the saxophone repertoire in Sweden. The document concludes with the discussion of various compositions of the Swedish saxophone repertoire, which all have emerged as the offspring of Larsson's initial initiative for a saxophone repertoire in Swedish art music. The document is provided with an extensive Annotated Bibliography of Lars-Erik Larsson, and a Listing of Music and Recordings of Swedish Saxophone Repertoire.

Approved by the Doctoral Committee:

Associate Dean Dr. Frederick L. Hemke

Associate Professor Michael Pisaro

Professor William Porter

____________________________________________               

        Dr. Frederick L. Hemke, Associate Dean       12/8/95              

DEDICATION

This document in primarily dedicated to Lars-Erik Larsson. Secondly the document is dedicated to those who find pleasure in listening to, or performing, the Konsert För Saxofon och Stråkorkester, op.14 by Lars-Erik Larsson.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to gratefully acknowledge the guidance and encouragement from the Doctoral Committee members; Associate Dean Dr. Frederick L. Hemke, Associate Professor Michael Pisaro and Professor William Porter.

The author also wishes to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the following persons and institutions.

                                   
ABBREVIATIONS AND NOTES

ISCM  International Society for Contemporary Music.

Ed. edited, editor.

Note: In all published editions of Larsson's Saxophone concerto the solo part is notated as transposed for alto saxophone in Eb. However, unless otherwise noted, all pitches in this document are noted in concert pitch.

NOMENCLATURE

Symbols for Description and Analysis (after J.LaRue):

P - primary themes (in 1st key)

T - transition themes (modulatory)

S - secondaty themes (subordinate key)

K - closing or cadencial themes

N - new material (after exposition)

a, b, c, etc. - phrases

x, y, z, etc. - subphrases

m, n, o, etc. - motives

Successive theme units in the same key are numbered successively: 1P, 2P, 3P; 1S, 2S...

Deviration iS indicated by parentheses: K (Pa), i.e. K derives from 1st phrase of P.

Variants of a phrase or theme is indicated as follow: Pa', Pa", Pa"'...