Soliloquies and Dances

The purpose of this work is to provide an introduction to the solo saxophone repertoire of American composer Elliot Del Borgo (b. 1938). By examining Del Borgo s relatively unexplored body of works for saxophone, this research aims to encourage further research and performance of the composer s six compositions for solo saxophone, including two sonatas, two unaccompanied pieces, a work for saxophone with strings and a piece for solo saxophone with band. The following topics are...
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The purpose of this work is to provide an introduction to the solo saxophone repertoire of American composer Elliot Del Borgo (b. 1938). By examining Del Borgo s relatively unexplored body of works for saxophone, this research aims to encourage further research and performance of the composer s six compositions for solo saxophone, including two sonatas, two unaccompanied pieces, a work for saxophone with strings and a piece for solo saxophone with band. The following topics are addressed, in order, to introduce the saxophonist to this repertoire and establish its compositional merit: Del Borgo s biographical background, his compositional influences, his approach to writing for the saxophone, the importance of his collaborations with saxophonist Dale Underwood and analyses of the composer s music for saxophone. The final chapter will provide conclusions drawn from this research, followed by appendices containing transcripts of telephone interviews with Elliot Del Borgo and saxophonist Dale Underwood.