Artist Led, Creatively Driven

Huw Wiggin
Bach EP

Release Date: December 7th 2018

ORC100093

J.S. Bach

Flute Sonata in C Major BWV 1033 (arr. Soprano saxophone, Harp and Cello by Huw Wiggin)

  1. Andante – Presto
  2. Allegro
  3. Adagio
  4. Menuet I – II

 

Huw Wiggin, soprano saxophone

Oliver Wass, Harp

Iain Ward, Cello 

The music of J.S. Bach has always been present in my life, from the Brandenburg Concertos that were played around the house when I was a child to Christmas Music when I was at school. I then moved to London as a student and loved going to listen to solo Organ concerts in churches around London. I love his use of two part melodies, the way he repeats phrases and modulates so cleverly into related keys and tones. Through my relationship with Oliver Wass I discovered the Bach Sonatas for Flute and I decided to transcribe them for soprano saxophone, harp and cello. This sonata in C Major is my favourite because I find it the most reflective and expressive. When I first heard the third movement: Adagio I heard it as one of the most beautiful melodies I had ever listened to. The sound of the soprano saxophone also brings a new colour to the interpretation, the unique combination of the brass body and the mouthpiece reinvents the piece with a trumpet-like sound combined with the sound of an oboe or clarinet. Bach always believed that his music should be played on any instrument and I would like to think that he would have loved to hear this sonata on the saxophone.

 

Huw Wiggin

 

Huw Wiggin

“Liquid gold tones and enviable breath control” The Times.

“Impressive breath control… mellifluous fluidity” Seen and Heard International.

Commonwealth Musician of the Year, First Prize and Gold Medal Winner of the Royal Over-seas League Annual Music Competition, Huw Wiggin is one of the most popular saxophonists of his generation. He has performed in venues as far afield as the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing as well as those closer to home, such as London’s Wigmore Hall.

Huw is professor of saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music in London. A keen educator, he is also an ambassador for the Henley Music School and regularly gives masterclasses around the UK and abroad. Huw is also a member of the Ferio Saxophone Quartet and regularly performs with them in and outside the UK.

Huw plays on Selmer Mark VI Saxophones.

 

Oliver Wass
Oliver Wass studied at the Guildhall School of Music with Imogen Barford. He has won international competitions throughout Europe, and in 2016, he became the first harpist ever to win the Guildhall Gold Medal. He has performed all the major harp concertos, including directing George Frideric Handel’s Harp Concerto in the Barbican Hall.

 

Iain Ward

Iain enjoys a successful freelance career, working with the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and London Contemporary Orchestra (Principal), amongst many others. Broadcast work includes performances with the London Symphony, sessions at Abbey Road and performances at the Royal Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic.

 

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