One of the set pieces for the 2006 Adolphe Sax Competition in Dinant was the interestingly titled 'Ge(r)ms' by Daniel Capelletti. If memory serves, the piece was set for the first round and thus would have been learned by over hundred competitors. It is surprising to me then that a search for this piece yields very little content, only the possibility to buy the piece and a single video recording of one participant's attempt at the competition. The competition has been videoing all performances for some years now and although over ten years old I find it interesting how this piece seems to have slipped into obscurity, whilst other not dissimilar pieces seem to have established a place in the classical saxophone canon. Although perhaps more developed, the Christian Lauba studies and Oxyton, not to mention the Scelsi and Noda pieces all seem to have secured their position in the classical saxophonists' musical ghetto. Is it simply that it isn't a very good piece? I fear the same could be argued for many other more popular works. Is it the immense difficulty of the work? This shouldn't really exclude it, not in the age of Ferneyhough and Finnissy. It is ever the case that contemporary works rarely get a second airing, but I thought that there's enough of merit in this piece for it to be recorded properly by someone. Maybe I shall do it myself at some point and see if there's any possibility of rekindling enjoyment for this work.
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June 2022
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