Duo-Konzert

German composer Erwin Dressel (June 10, 1909 - December 17, 1972) first wrote for the saxophone in the 1930’s upon meeting and hearing Sigurd Raschèr. Both his Sonate für Altsaxophon und Klavier and Konzert für Altsaxophon und Orchester came about in 1933 and received multiple performances as well as eventual publication. In 1938 Dressel continued his creative contribution with Capriccio für Altsaxophon und Steichorchester. 

In 1964 Dressel composed what might be considered his most popular work for the saxophone, Partita für Altsaxophon und Klavier. His last work for saxophones, Duo-Konzert für Sopran und Altsaxophon und Orchester, appeared in 1965. 

Correspondence between Dressel and Sigurd Raschèr (held in the Sigurd M. Raschèr Archive at the State University of New York at Fredonia) provide evidence of a continued effort to see the piece premiered. A letter from Dressel to Raschèr dated December 19, 1965 thanks Raschèr for looking at the piece and mentions that they will be seeing each other the following year (November 1966). Raschèr had scheduled solo-performances with the Berlin Philharmonic on November 5th & 6th (1966) and had indicated that he hoped to find a premiere performance of Dressel’s Duo-Konzert. Dressel made some effort to schedule a premiere with a radio orchestra in Berlin but, unfortunately, no premiere was ever secured for the Raschèr Duo.

Sarah Marchitelli and Jacob Swanson gave the first performances of the work in 2012, touring the work through the United States, Switzerland, and Germany. Edited by the dedicatee, Carina Raschèr, Duo-Konzert was published in 2013 by Ries & Erler in Berlin. The premiere performance (with orchestra) took place on February 5, 2014 with Sarah Marchitelli and Jacob Swanson playing the saxophone parts alongside the Trinity Chamber Orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio with Todd Wilson conducting.

“Sometimes already set plans don’t work as intended. This is the case with the Duo-Konzert by Dressel. Finding an appropriate venue for such a late Romantic work was not possible, neither in the USA, nor in Europe. The world premiere had to wait until 2011 when it was performed by the young and very talented couple Sarah and Jacob Swanson. Times had changed…now the delightful piece was enthusiastically accepted by audiences! I was even successful in having the manuscript published! Now we all hope that this delightful piece will soon have its solid place in the repertoire of the saxophone, also since Duo repertoire is rather seldom. Earlier, Dressel had written several works for alto saxophone that were dedicated to SMR; a Sonate (1933), an Alto Saxophone Concerto with orchestra (1933), Cappricio, (1938) Bagatellen, (1938) and Partita (1964), all three works with piano accompaniment. These works have found their way into the solo repertoire of young college and university music students, and are very well liked. Let us hope that the Duo-Konzert will also find its place.” -CMR