Crystal Records — Kenneth Tse, Saxophone

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     Kenneth Tse, a native of Hong Kong, has performed in many parts of Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States as a soloist and adjudicator. He has given clinics at major conferences, such as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinics and North America Saxophone Alliance Conferences, and universities around the globe.
     Mainly self-taught as a youth, he met Eugene Rousseau in 1989 and began his studies at Indiana University with Rousseau, becoming the youngest winner of the IU Saxophone Concerto Competition and the first saxophonist ever to receive the prestigious artist diploma from the IU School of Music. Rousseau called him, "a brilliant saxophonist...worthy of any stage in the world." As a student at IU, Tse began his recording and concertizing career. A winner of the New York Artists International Competition, Tse made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1996 and was hailed as "a young virtuoso" by the New York Times. An advocate for new music, Tse has had many works dedicated to him by notable composers. Tse has three solo CDs on Crystal Records.
     Tse is currently Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of Iowa and also serves as the Membership Director for the North American Saxophone Alliance.

 

CD358: Pas de Trois.  Kenneth Tse, Saxophone; Benjamin Coelho, Bassoon; Alan Huckleberry, Piano. Bernard Van Beurden, Pas de trois;  Jindrich Feld, Trio Giocoso; David Froom, Arirang Variations; Perry Goldstein, Noir; Don Freund, Louder than Words. UPC 00941473582-9.   ORDER NOW

Saxophone, Bassoon, and Piano is an unusual combination that creates an exciting and vibrant sound. The works on this CD represent some of the finest writing for this combination, and the performers are three of the best practitioners of their art.

Kenneth Tse "plays with seductive tonal beauty" (American Record Guide) and is "a brilliant saxophonist...worthy of any stage in the world." (Eugene Rousseau). Benjamin Coelho's "playing is unfailingly sonorous, expressive and alert." (Gramophone)   Alan Huckleberry has "technical mastery and interpretive panache." (Fanfare)  The three musicians are on the faculty at the University of Iowa and perform internationally.

"Both Kenneth Tse and Benjamin Coelho play with warm, full tone and with enviable agility. Alan Huckleberry ably accompanies them, and then some, because this music rarely relegates him to the back seat. His alert playing is a fine foil for his partners and for the music too." International Record Review, October 2006

"The Pas de Trois CD is living proof of just how exciting the saxophone can be in a chamber ensemble. ... To sum up this trio's performance would be to say they are simply superb. This trio of three virtuoso musicians has created a completely exhilarating musical experience on this CD. This is a CD that you don't want to miss. Bravo!" Saxophone Journal, Nov/Dec 2006

"From Crystal comes yet another program of stimulating chamber works by fairly obscure composers. As usual, it is beautifully performed and recorded with great presence." Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2006

"These performances are as good as they can be. The three of them play with impeccable musicianship, exhilarating technique, and panache; and they deliver nothing short of the best. Not only is it a delight to hear them play, but this music is a pleasure to hear." American Record Guide, Nov/Dec 2006

"While the instrumentation of this trio may seem unusual, the timbres blend beautifully and create interesting counterpoint throughout this wonderful recording." The Instrumentalist Magazine, August 2006

 

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Van Beurden: Pas de trois:  Ouverture   Pastorale   Tarantella   Feld: Trio Giocoso:  Allegro   Andante   Allegro vivo    Froom:  Arirang Variations    Goldstein:  Noir    Freund:  Louder than Words:  Part I   Part II

 

 

CD359: Stellar Saxes, KENNETH TSE and NOBUYA SUGAWA, SAXOPHONES. UPC 00941473592-8.  ORDER NOW  

Paul Hindemith, Concert Piece for two alto saxophones; Jun Nagao, Paganini Lost, for two alto saxophones and piano, and Lovers on the Celestial Sphere, for soprano and tenor saxophones and piano; Masanori Katoh, Oriental, for soprano and alto saxophones; Guy Lacour, Sute en Duo, for two alto saxophones; Victor Morosco, Contemporary Etudes in Duet Form, for two alto saxophones. with Kazuo Murakami, piano.

            Nobuya Sugawa and Kenneth Tse are two of the best-known saxophonists in the world. Specializing in premiere performances, they present on this CD some of the most exciting new works for two saxophones. This is Kenneth Tse's fifth CD on Crystal Records. All have been greeted with praise from both critics and consumers. "Tse plays with seductive tonal beauty." (American Record Guide)  "If Fanfare awarded grades to recordings, this would rate A+" (Fanfare, writing about Tse's CD658 on Crystal)

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown. 
Nagao: Paganini Lost   Hindemith: Konzertstucke  Lebhaft   Massig langsam, Lebhaft    Katoh: Oriental    Lacour: Suite en duo  Allegro   Aria   Petite Fugue   Largo - Scherzetto    Nagao: Lovers on the Celestial Sphere    Morosco: Contemporary Etudes  Etude 1   Etude 2   Etude 4

 

CD656: SPARKLING SAX: KENNETH TSE, SAXOPHONE with Kari Miller, Piano.  JIndrich Feld, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Bernhard Heiden, Solo for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Victor Morosco, Blue Caprice; Walter Kaufmann, Meditation; Robert Muczynski, Sonata; Warren Benson, Aeolian Song; Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story Medley. "Kenneth Tse is a uniquely talented saxophonist endowed with a facile technique and a tone of great beauty, plus the ability to understand and interpret a wide range of musical styles." _ Eugene Rousseau, Eminent saxophone soloist & Professor of Saxophone, Indiana University     UPC 00941476562-8  ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Feld Sonata:  Mvt 1(Allegro Ritmico)  Mvt 2(Adagio)  Mvt 3 (Allegro Vivo)  Mvt 4 (Allegro con Fuoco)    Kaufmann: Meditation   Muczynski: Sonata  Mvt 1   Mvt 2     Benson: Aeolian Song     Heiden: Solo     Morosco: Blue Caprice     Bernstein(arr. Rousseau): West Side Story medley

 

CD657: AN AMERICAN EXHIBITION.  Kenneth Tse, Saxophone. Mami Nagai, piano.  David DeBoor Canfield, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; John Cheetham, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Libby Larsen, Holy Roller; William Grant Still, Romance; Leonard Mark Lewis, As in Stained Light; Jay Vosk, Thaw; Walter Hartley, Sonata for Baritone Saxophone and Piano. UPC 00941476572-7
     Kenneth Tse was formerly Instructor at Indiana University and professor at University of Missouri.  He is presently at the University of Iowa.  About his first CD
on Crystal, CD656, American Record Guide wrote "Kenneth Tse plays the saxophone with seductive tonal beauty." ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Canfield Sonata:  Mvt 1(Grazioso)  Mvt 2(Molto vivo)  Mvt 3(Ad libitum)  Mvt 4(Moto perpetuo)     Cheetham Sonata:  Mvt 1(Giocoso)  Mvt 2(Lento)  Mvt 3(Con moto)     Larsen: Holy Roller     Still: Romance   Lewis: As In Stained Light   Vosk: Thaw     Hartley Sonata:  Mvt 1(Andante)  Mvt 2(Adagio)  Mvt 3(Allegro)


CD658: LYRIC SOPRANO.  Kenneth Tse, Soprano Saxophone. Alan Huckleberry, piano.   Antonino Pasculli: Le Api; Gabriel Faure: Trois Romances sans Paroles; Jer™me Naulais: Sax de Voyage; Isaac Albeniz: Tango Op. 165, No. 2; Denis Bedard: Fantaisie; John C. Worley: Six Dances; Astor Piazzolla: L'Histoire du Tango; Leonard Mark Lewis: Prelude (for Kenneth Tse).  Kenneth Tse is currently the professor of saxophone at the University of Iowa.  "Tse is the caliber of instrumentalist whose very sound is captivating." Fanfare  "Tse gives a bravado, fleet-fingered performance... seduces enchantingly... is utterly beguiling... a richly enjoyable recital", International Record Review   UPC 00941476582-6 ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Pasculli: Le Api    Faure Trois Romances Mvmt 1  Mvmt 2  Mvmt 3     Naulais: Sax de Voyage    Albeniz: Tango     Bedard: Fantaisie     Worley: Six Dances  Prelude   Allemande   Sarabande   Gavotte   Courante   Gigue     Piazzolla: L'Histoire du Tango  Bordel   Cafe   Night-club   Concert d'aujourd'hui     Lewis: Prelude

 

 

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